TU/e ends partnerships with Chinese universities due to military links

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU Eindhoven, TU/e) is ending its partnerships with several Chinese universities that have close ties to the Chinese military. Research involving universities in Russia and Iran has already been halted, according to the university magazine Cursor.

In December, TU Eindhoven’s Executive Board adopted a policy on knowledge security. The aim is to prevent sensitive knowledge from being transferred and potentially used for military purposes.

Researchers at TU Eindhoven are required to end any existing collaborations with certain Chinese institutions, according to an email sent this week by one of the university’s faculties to its staff. In addition, collaborations with other institutions in Russia and Iran must also be discontinued. The sanctions against Russia and Iran have been in place for some time.

In China, the measure applies, among others, to the seven leading universities collectively known as the Seven Sons of National Defence. These universities maintain close links with the People’s Liberation Army, which operates under the authority of the Chinese Communist Party.

What’s the situation at TU Delft?

TU Delft advises academics wishing to collaborate with international counterparts to consult the Knowledge Security Advisory Service and the Partnering Tools. The advisory guidance states, among other things, that collaboration is “generally highly undesirable” if an institution or individual is directly or indirectly affiliated with a military organisation outside the EU or NATO. Researchers at TU Delft may also submit a knowledge security case to the university’s Knowledge Security Advisory Team for assessment. (HOP, NB/ Delta, AdB)