MI5 has warned British universities that research funded through a Chinese state-linked institute may be helping China’s intelligence service develop espionage capabilities. The alert urges institutions and researchers to review or end relevant collaborations, saying the work could threaten UK national security and potentially lead to prosecution under the National Security Act 2023.

The article says more than 100 UK-linked academics have contributed to projects funded through the China General Technology Research Institute, which MI5 links to China’s Ministry of State Security. The research areas cited include artificial intelligence, cyber-security, covert communications and steganography; some academics and universities may not have known the funding’s ultimate source. Security Minister Dan Jarvis has written to university vice-chancellors urging them to end arrangements with the institute, while the article says assisting a foreign intelligence service can carry a sentence of up to 14 years.