Denmark’s Technical University (DTU) has chosen to terminate its collaborations with seven Chinese and three Iranian universities. The decision has been made due to fear of “inappropriate knowledge transfer,” as vice-dean Rasmus Larsen stated to Radio4. According to Rasmus Larsen, the potential risk includes both espionage and violation of export control rules. Additionally, there is concern that the research could be used in ways that DTU cannot endorse. “It may be a risk of espionage. It may be a risk of us violating export control rules. Or it may be a risk that the international partner wants to use the research in a way we do not support,” Larsen told Radio4.
With this initiative, DTU is following in the footsteps of other Danish universities. University of Copenhagen (KU) announced in June that it would end all collaboration with the Chinese company BGI Group, and Aarhus University made a similar decision in May. Both institutions acted on advice from the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) and the Ministry of Education and Research.
The Chinese universities that DTU is now cutting ties with are among those known as “the seven sons of the national defense” due to their close connections to the Chinese military.