Chinese state-funded institutes have released job ads in the UK, aimed at recruiting Chinese scientists for their National Natural Science Foundation’s Science Fund Programme for Distinguished Young Scholars (Overseas). Although many of the advertised positions were in innocuous areas such as marine environmental science, biomedical science and remote sensing, a number also pertained to more sensitive fields such as semiconductors and advanced materials, which have applications in both civilian and military contexts. Researchers have warned that such schemes are a potential threat to British knowhow, though there is no immediate evidence of data theft or military development. Benedict Rogers, co-founder of Hong Kong Watch, has called for much stronger background checks and greater caution regarding research relationships between UK and Chinese institutions.
China recruiting British-trained tech workers.
