MIT, Amid Scrutiny of Foreign Research, Announces Stricter Review of Chinese and Saudi Collaborations

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Wednesday said it would scrutinize more intensely research collaborations with Chinese, Saudi, and Russian universities and academics. Leaders of research at MIT also said the private university would not accept new engagements or renew existing ones with the Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE or their subsidiaries.

It’s the latest step by a U.S. research university to re-evaluate its research projects with China. The relationships have been subject to sharp scrutiny from U.S. government agencies and lawmakers. Institutions including Cornell University and Ohio State University have announced that they would not accept additional grants from Huawei.

The U.S. government has accused that company of stealing trade secrets, and officials have warned of its ability to spy on U.S. communications networks. President Donald Trump last year signed legislation that forbids executive agencies from using Huawei and ZTE products.

MIT’s decision also follows criticism of its partnerships with Saudi Arabia, in response to which the university’s president, L. Rafael Reif, condemned the kingdom’s human-rights abuses. In an open letter to the campus this year, Reif stopped short of saying MIT should cut ties with the kingdom. In the fiscal year just past, Saudi-government entities and universities sponsored about $7.2 million in research at MIT, supporting 48 principal investigators.

Under its new policy, MIT will give these projects a level of review that goes beyond what research partnerships currently receive. It “is designed to enable MIT to engage with the world effectively, with responsible management of risks and in keeping with the values of our community,” Richard K. Lester, the associate provost, and Maria T. Zuber, vice president for research, wrote in a letter to their colleagues.

Three types of projects will be subject to the higher review: those funded by people or entities from China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia; those involving MIT faculty or staff members or students doing work in those countries; and collaborations with people or entities from those countries.

If the associate provost determines that there is still “significant risk” after other groups evaluate a project’s budget and proposal, a group of top administrators and the university’s general counsel will look at the project plan. That group will either give the project a plan to manage risk or “decide that the project cannot proceed,” the letter said.

The list of countries included in the new review process is subject to change, the university said. MIT will “revisit” collaborations with Huawei and ZTE “as circumstances dictate.”

Lindsay Ellis is a staff reporter. Follow her on Twitter @lindsayaellis, or email her at lindsay.ellis@chronicle.com.