Britain has accused China of running a large-scale espionage operation targeting UK academics working on artificial intelligence and advanced technology.

MI5 issued an espionage alert on September 30 naming the Chinese Global Talent Recruitment Initiative, known as CGTRI. More than 100 British academics were warned they may have been targeted by operatives linked to China’s Ministry of State Security.

The targeted fields include AI, cybersecurity, covert communications and steganography — the hiding of messages inside digital files. Officials said the programme tried to recruit researchers and extract sensitive knowledge.

Security minister Dan Jarvis said Britain would take “robust action” to protect its universities and research institutions. China denied the allegations, calling them unfounded.

The alert is the latest sign of strained ties between London and Beijing over technology security. British universities, which host world-leading AI research groups, have been told to tighten vetting of research partnerships and overseas funding offers.