China’s actions ‘not in accord with US values of science ethics’, report says
- Research organisations should work more closely with the intelligence community, science advisory group says
- Study finds problems ‘with respect to research transparency, lack of reciprocity in collaborations and consortiums … potential conflicts of interest’
The report – by the Jason group, which operates under the research firm Mitre Corporation – said that the threat of foreign influences on US research enterprises was real and that foreigners who violated the rules on disclosing their links to foreign agencies should be investigated.
However, it said it was not necessary for the government to impose any new restrictions on basic research in the name of protecting national security.
The report, commissioned by the National Science Foundation (NSF), also looked at the research conditions at major organisations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and government organs like the Department of Energy.
It said the NSF should engage with US intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and encouraged it to investigate and adjudicate on cases in which researchers failed to disclose information about possible conflicts of interest.
“The actions of the Chinese government and its institutions that are not in accord with US values of science ethics have raised concerns about foreign influence in the US academic sector,” it said.