Høyre warns against university espionage: “NTNU should limit intake of fellows from China, Iran, Russia…”

NTNUPhoto: Gorm Kallestad / NTB

“NTNU should limit the intake of fellows from China, Iran, Russia, and Pakistan,” Hårek Elvenes (H) notes. NTNU believes that skill trumps nationality.

“It is quite serious that so many Ph.D. students with a place at NTNU come from China or Iran. A ceiling must be set on the number of students and researchers who come from countries with which Norway does not have security cooperation,” parliamentary representative Hårek Elvenes told newspaper VG.

In the latest national threat assessment, the Police Security Service (PST) pointed out that some states could exploit Norwegian educational and research institutions for illegal knowledge transfer.

Four countries are identified as the biggest threats: Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan.

Skill over nationality

In an email to VG, rector Anne Borg at NTNU wrote that the university is looking for the best minds regardless of which countries they come from.

“China has for several years been a desired partner nation in the government’s strategy for higher education and research cooperation (Panorama strategy 2015-2020). 

“At the same time, we must realize that China will continue to be a strategically important partner in several areas within Norwegian research and education, also for NTNU,” Borg wrote.

She says that about 10% of the foreign fellows are from China and Iran.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayEducation

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