On September 30, 2026, MI5 issued an espionage alert saying the primary purpose of the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI, also called the China Academy of General Technology) is to fund research that directly improves the technical espionage capability of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). MI5 assesses CGTRI to be an MSS front company that funds academic work in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, covert communications systems and steganography. More than 100 UK-linked academics have contributed to projects it backed, and in some cases they may not know CGTRI is the funder.
MI5 urged UK academic institutions to immediately review any ongoing or planned collaboration with CGTRI and to trace the funding source of research partnerships with Chinese institutions. It also warned that institutions, staff and researchers who keep collaborating could face prosecution under the National Security Act 2023 for providing material assistance to a foreign intelligence service. The Chinese embassy in the UK called the accusations “imaginary and purely fabricated” and said it had lodged representations. An analysis by UK China Transparency notes CGTRI has staffing overlaps with the University of International Relations, which it describes as closely affiliated with the MSS, and says CGTRI’s specialties are useful for the kind of cyber-attacks the MSS has carried out against UK companies, universities and public services.