Professor’s alleged role in China programmes leads to ban from US funding

Tao Li, a professor who oversaw US funding of computer science research for more than two years, has been banned from receiving federal funding for six years due to his alleged involvement in Chinese government programs, according to previously unreported documents. Li, who served as a programme officer at the National Science Foundation from 2015 to 2017, took part in two Chinese talent plans during his tenure at the NSF.

The FBI warned in 2019 that such programs could lead to the misappropriation of foreign knowledge or technology, and informed NSF leadership of Li's suspected involvement. The inspector general's office began an investigation based on the FBI's concerns, but it took seven years for the probe to conclude and the NSF to take action.

Li was involved in awarding US research grants to at least seven other scientists, some of whom also allegedly failed to disclose their participation in the Chinese talent plan. Despite the investigation, the Justice Department declined to refer the case for criminal prosecution in 2024. The NSF banned Li from federal funding in May, but the decision was made after Li had already taken up a position at a military-affiliated university in central China, where he now runs an artificial intelligence research center.

Li maintains that the grants awarded to other scientists were given "based on merit," and that he "diligently fulfilled my responsibilities" during his time at the NSF. The case has been described as one of the most egregious research security failures, according to a Republican congressman on the House Select Committee on China.

China's embassy in Washington stated that they are "not aware of the specifics" regarding Li, but emphasized that China opposes the politicization and weaponization of academic research and scientific and technological exchanges.