Concerns raised over Chinese health giant’s links to UK universities as the government refuses to investigate its ‘dangerous’ influence
- Serious concerns raised over lucrative deals with genetics company BGI Group
- BGI is facing long-held allegations of complicity in human rights abuses
- Millions of taxpayers’ money awarded to universities to collaborate with BGI
The Government is refusing to investigate the ‘dangerous’ influence a controversial Chinese health giant holds over British academia, it can be revealed.
Serious national concerns have been raised over the lucrative deals struck between genetics company BGI Group and UK universities.
Dozens of academics have warned against allowing the firm so much access to the UK’s DNA research given its close ties to Beijing’s communist government and military.
BGI is facing long-held allegations of complicity in human rights abuses and questions over what it does with the genetic data it collects. However, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is continuing to resist calls to launch an independent inquiry to determine how much of a threat the firm poses.
The Daily Mail revealed in July how millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money had been awarded to universities – including Oxford – over the past decade to collaborate with BGI.
Serious national concerns have been raised over the lucrative deals struck between genetics company BGI Group and UK universities
The Daily Mail revealed in July how millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money had been awarded to universities – including Oxford – over the past decade to collaborate with BGI
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is continuing to resist calls to launch an independent inquiry to determine how much of a threat the firm poses
In response, campaign group Stop Uyghur Genocide and more than 40 academics called on ministers to pause all partnerships between UK universities and BGI until they had carried out an independent inquiry.
They highlighted the firm’s alleged links with the Chinese military, which it said had shown an interest in using DNA research to develop bioweapons.
In her response, seen by the Mail, Mrs Keegan said the Government took the issues ‘very seriously’. But she stopped short of agreeing to a full inquiry, arguing universities were expected to ‘make their own judgments’ on who to collaborate with.
Dr Sheldon Stone, of Stop Uyghur Genocide, said it was ‘concerned’ by the response, adding: ‘[BGI’s] influence carries ethical, security and privacy dangers to our universities’.
A spokesman for BGI said it does not engage in unethical practices. The Government said it was reviewing how it supports the academic sector to keep research secure.
Source: Read Full Article
