# MI5 issues unprecedented security alert to British universities about China's infiltration of academia to benefit Beijing's spies > Source: > Published: 2026-09-30 13:10:30+00:00 # MI5 issues unprecedented security alert to British universities about China's infiltration of academia to benefit Beijing's spies [MI5](https://www.dailymail.com/news/mi5/index.html) has warned universities to stop working with [China](https://www.dailymail.com/news/china/index.html) on key technologies or face prosecution for helping [Beijing](https://www.dailymail.com/news/beijing/index.html)'s spies. In an unprecedented espionage alert, the Security Service has called out 100 British academics taking funding from China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) for research on sensitive topics like [artificial intelligence](https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/ai/index.html). The stark warning, which is the first official alert made public by MI5, reveals Beijing's spies have secretly been funding studies at British universities in key areas like cyber-security and covert communications systems, in order to hone their 'technical capability for espionage'. Academics sharing data with China on research areas like steganography, which is the practice of hiding a secret message in a file or physical object to avoid detection, are risking national security, MI5 believes. Now universities are being instructed to sever ties or academics could face possible charges for assisting a foreign intelligence service, which carries a possible 14-year sentence. It comes after spy chief Sir Ken McCallum told a select group of 70 universities in February that hostile states were using sophisticated methods to target academics and 'shape research and teaching content'. MI5 hauled UK vice-chancellors into a briefing, but it seems that researchers have continued to collaborate in exchange for funding from China. Some of Britain's top universities have research agreements with Beijing. MI5 has warned universities to stop working with China on key technologies or face prosecution for helping Beijing's spies. Pictured: the MI5 London headquarters Universities including Oxford and Cambridge are on a list of UK institutions that have partnerships with China's top defence universities. MI5 has identified that the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), sometimes translated as China Academy of General Technology (CAGT), is being used as a vehicle to fund research for Beijing's intelligence service, the Chinese MSS. More than 100 UK-linked academics have contributed to projects funded via CGTRI. In some cases, academics may not realise that their work is being funded indirectly by the CGTRI, and in other cases academic institutions will have engaged with CGTRI in 'good faith' not knowing the link to the MSS. Now the Security Minister has demanded universities ditch those agreements and stop passing on sensitive information about cutting-edge AI technology. Dan Jarvis said: 'This alert exposes attempts by Chinese intelligence to covertly benefit from the expertise and research of our academics, undermining our national security, and that of our allies. 'I have written to all university Vice-Chancellors to ensure they support their staff to end all arrangements with this company, preventing further benefit to the Chinese intelligence services and ensuring compliance with the National Security Act. 'International partnerships are vital to ensure our universities and research institutes continue to thrive, but we will take robust action to defend against the threats we face. That means supporting our police and intelligence services to expose and disrupt harmful activity, using the full force of the law.' The alert says: 'MI5 has identified that the primary purpose of CGTRI is to fund academic research that directly improves MSS technical capability for espionage. CGTRI-funded projects on topics including Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, covert communications systems and steganography. 'This activity supports MSS espionage, which poses a threat to UK national security.' MI5 is advising academic institutions to 'immediately review any ongoing or planned collaboration with CGTRI,' adding 'Further, academics are advised to establish the ultimate funding source when conducting any research collaboration with Chinese institutions, to ensure CGTRI is not involved.' Academic institutions, staff and researchers could face prosecution under the National Security Act 2023, for assisting a foreign intelligence service or obtaining a material benefit from a hostile state. It concludes by warning: 'Any institution or individual continuing to conduct research ultimately funded by CGTRI following publication of this espionage alert should take their own independent legal advice, in particular (but not limited to) in relation to the offences under sections 3 and 17 of the National Security Act.'