Queen’s University Belfast Asks Staff to Review China Partnerships After MI5 Warning
Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has asked staff to review existing and proposed collaborations involving a Chinese institute named in an MI5 warning, as UK universities face mounting scrutiny over research ties with Beijing.
The alert focused on the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), which MI5 described as a front company working for China’s intelligence and security service. In an unusually direct intervention, the UK’s internal security service told universities they may have unintentionally assisted China’s espionage.
MI5 said CGTRI has “very strong ties” to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). The agency identified more than 100 UK-linked academics who contributed to projects funded by the MSS through CGTRI. In some cases, MI5 said, researchers would not have been aware of the front company’s role in their work.
British academics contributed to CGTRI-funded projects on topics including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, covert communications systems and steganography—the practice of hiding a secret message or file inside an ordinary message or object.
MI5 warned that academics who failed to cut ties with CGTRI could ultimately face criminal charges for aiding a foreign state. UK universities were advised to immediately review funding for any research collaboration with China.
The warning reflected MI5’s broader concern that China is funding UK research and sending it to Beijing’s spies.
The Chinese Embassy in London rejected the allegation. A spokesperson called it “imaginary and purely fabricated.”
At Queen’s, staff were “strongly advised to review any existing or proposed collaborations involving CGTRI,” according to an email sent to employees. “Work is ongoing within Queen’s to do this,” the email said. “However, this may not be obvious through our existing systems and so researchers are also advised to undertake appropriate due diligence to identify the ultimate source of funding for collaborations with Chinese institutions.”
A Queen’s University Belfast spokesperson told BBC News NI that the university takes “responsibilities around research and national security extremely seriously.” The university said it had begun a review of any existing or proposed collaborations involving CGTRI and had contacted staff asking them to report concerns to the relevant Faculty Dean of Research.
“We will keep this situation under review while continuing to support our collaboration, research and innovation projects locally, nationally and internationally,” the spokesperson said.
The case underscores the balancing act facing UK campuses: global partnerships are central to research and innovation, but security officials say they can also be exploited by state actors. QUB’s website says the university has invested more than $10 million (£7.56 million) in China-related research over the past decade, in areas including sustainable energy, information technology, food security and cancer research.
Ulster University said it had no research links with the organization referenced by MI5. The warning is likely to push other institutions to examine their China-related funding and partnerships more closely.