October 1, 2026
The British Internal Intelligence Service (MI5) warned of a Chinese organization that it said was funding academic research in Britain in sensitive technical fields for the benefit of the Chinese State Security Service, calling for caution against these activities that include the fields of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
The agency explained, in a warning issued on Wednesday, that the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI) organization is closely linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), noting the participation of more than 100 academics residing in the United Kingdom in projects funded by the organization.
MI5 stated that the funded research included vital sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, secret communications systems, and information hiding techniques, considering that these projects directly contribute to enhancing the technical capabilities of the Chinese intelligence services.
In the first public warning issued independently about this organization, MI5 explained that the primary purpose of its activity is to support the espionage capabilities of the Chinese Ministry of State Security, warning academics and institutions that continued cooperation may expose them to accountability and legal risks under the British National Security Act issued in 2023.
At the same time, the agency indicated the possibility that a number of British academics and institutions had dealt with the organization in good faith and without realizing its reality and its intelligence connections.
On the other hand, the Chinese embassy in Britain rejected these accusations, describing them as “imaginary and completely fabricated,” and affirming Beijing’s categorical rejection of these baseless allegations. The embassy called on the British intelligence services to stop spreading lies and not to harm educational and research cooperation between the two countries.
In official reactions, British Security Minister Dan Garvis announced that he had sent official letters to university presidents in the United Kingdom, with the aim of ensuring that any potential employee relations with the Chinese organization are severed.
Garvis stressed that this warning highlights the attempts of Chinese intelligence to secretly benefit from British academic expertise and research, stressing the government’s commitment to taking firm measures to confront national security threats, while at the same time maintaining the continuation of vital international partnerships for universities and research institutions in the country.
