UK Warns Universities About Research Threat From Foreign States
- Britain plans consultation on measures to protect universities
- UK security panel last year warned about threat posed by China
Cambridge University.
Photographer: Jose Sarmento Matos/BloombergForeign states are using UK universities to “steal advantage” by covertly acquiring British intellectual property, the government warned, saying it would explore proposals to protect cutting-edge research and technology.
After an internal review found other countries are targeting sensitive academic work, the UK will consult on measures to protect the British higher education sector from foreign threats, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said late Thursday. It followed a meeting in which leaders of 24 universities — including Oxford and Cambridge — were briefed by the chiefs of the UK Security Service, MI5, and the National Cyber Security Centre.