The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has decided to suspend collaborations, including research projects and funding, with Huawei and ZTE due to the US government’s ongoing battle with the Chinese companies over alleged sanction violations. Tech Crunch reports that MIT VP for Research, Maria T. Zuber, has sent a letter to faculty and researchers explaining that the university has instituted a new set of procedures for what it calls “elevated risk” international proposals.
As part of this new review process, MIT will not accept any new engagements with Huawei, ZTE, or subsidiaries of either company. “The Institute will revisit collaborations with these entities as circumstances dictate,” said Zuber, adding that projects funded by people or entities from China (including Hong Kong), Russia and Saudi Arabia will also receive additional scrutiny.
Huawei and ZTE have been scrutinised by the U.S. over espionage risks since 2011 and in August 2018 President Trump signed an executive order banning the use of Huawei and ZTE equipment in US government networks or by US government contractors.
