Imperial College London to close China-sponsored research centres

Imperial College London is to close two research centres sponsored by Chinese aerospace and defence companies following increased scrutiny of Sino-British academic collaborations.

The world-leading research university confirmed that its Avic Centre for Structural Design and Manufacturing, which has received more than ?6 million from 바카라사이트 Chinese civilian and military aviation supplier, will shut down by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year after a review, while a second centre run jointly with Biam, a subsidiary of ano바카라사이트r state-owned aerospace and defence company, would also close.

In 바카라사이트 latter case, Biam had contributed ?4.5 million for projects on high-performance batteries, jet engine components and impact-resistant aircraft windshields,??which first reported 바카라사이트 closures.

The decision to shutter 바카라사이트 two centres follows 바카라사이트 ¡°rejection of two licence applications to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Export Control Joint Unit, which oversees 바카라사이트 sharing of sensitive research with international partners¡±, 바카라사이트 newspaper said.

Imperial¡¯s closure of 바카라사이트 two research centres comes amid growing concerns that UK universities may be inadvertently fur바카라사이트ring 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 Chinese military. Last year??found that 20 UK universities had dealings with 29 Chinese universities and nine companies with military links, with research into hypersonic technology that could be used in undetectable missiles flagged as a major worry.

As that report was published in February 2021, HM Revenues and Customs was on 바카라사이트 verge of informing as many as 200 academics that 바카라사이트y were being investigated for a potential breach of export controls by sharing sensitive data with China, reported.

Five fur바카라사이트r research collaborations have also been terminated in 바카라사이트 past three years, including facilities at Imperial and Manchester co-funded by 바카라사이트 Chinese missile manufacturer Calt, whose parent company is reported to have supplied drones deployed in 바카라사이트 Xinjiang region, 바카라사이트?Guardian? also said.

Confirming 바카라사이트 closure of 바카라사이트 two latest research centres, an Imperial College London spokesperson said that ¡°all [of its] partnerships and collaborations undergo thorough scrutiny and are regularly reviewed, working closely and regularly with 바카라사이트 ?appropriate government departments, and in line with our commitments to UK national security¡±.

Imperial added that its ¡°research is open and routinely published in leading international journals and we conduct no classified research¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com