Espionage: Security risks due to cooperation: industry raises alarm about China risks in research
The BDI warns of a possible Chinese access to German key technologies. The industry association demands that the People's Republic be viewed as a systemic rival and less as a partner.
Berlin. The German Industry Federation (BDI) has issued a warning about increasing security risks stemming from research collaborations with China. Kerstin Petretto, a Senior Researcher for Innovation, Security, and Technology at the BDI, stated that China systematically pursues access to key technologies and expertise, employing a broad range of tactics over the long term.
These tactics can include scientific collaborations and seemingly civilian contacts, according to Petretto. However, the BDI warns that this is particularly concerning when it comes to technologies that are not only economically but also militarily significant. The issue highlights the known deficiencies in security measures at the Helmholtz Center for Information Security (CISPA), which external auditors have found to inadequately protect data and business secrets, and to engage in risky partnerships and publications with entities from China's People's Republic.
The CISPA audit was prompted by reports of potential security shortcomings in Chinese collaborations, and the case is not isolated as the debate over research security intensifies.
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