MI5 has issued a rare public warning to UK universities that a Chinese intelligence front company is paying for research and stealing technological secrets. The domestic security service advised researchers to cease work with the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), also known as the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT). MI5 considers the body a significant threat and says continued collaboration could be prosecuted under the National Security Act 2023.
The organisation has allegedly funded more than 100 academics across UK universities in return for access to research, which MI5 claims has been passed back to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). Targeted areas include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, covert communications and steganography. Some British academics have reportedly received honours and awards from the Chinese institute.
In response, the Chinese embassy in London issued a strongly worded rebuttal, describing the accusations as imaginary and fabricated, and asserting that exchanges with UK universities are voluntary and lawful. Vice‑chancellors said they were unaware of funding from CGTRI but warned that individual academics may not know the original source of funds. Security Minister Dan Jarvis demanded that universities end ties to the institute and wrote to vice‑chancellors to ensure compliance with the National Security Act.
MI5’s alert states that CGTRI’s primary purpose is to fund research that directly improves MSS technical capability for espionage and that it has strong ties to the MSS. It advises UK institutions to review ongoing or planned collaborations, establish ultimate funding sources, and cease work with CGTRI. Universities UK’s chief executive said the sector takes research security seriously and has invested in due diligence, risk assessment and research security processes while supporting essential international collaboration.
