Queen's University Belfast has instructed staff to review existing and proposed collaborations involving the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI) after MI5 issued an alert identifying CGTRI as a front for the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS). MI5 said it had traced more than 100 UK-linked academics who contributed to projects funded by the MSS via CGTRI, sometimes without knowing the institute's role. Areas cited include artificial intelligence, cyber-security, covert communications systems and steganography. MI5 warned universities to sever or reassess ties and said researchers who do not cut links could ultimately face criminal charges for aiding a foreign state.
QUB has asked researchers to undertake due diligence to identify ultimate funding sources, report concerns to faculty research deans and is conducting an institutional review; a spokesman stressed the university takes research and national security responsibilities seriously. The Chinese embassy in London described the accusation as fabricated. Queen's disclosed it has invested more than $10m in China-related research over the past decade across fields such as sustainable energy, information technology, food security and cancer research. Ulster University said it has no research links with the named organisation.
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