Swiss top universities are taking strict measures to strengthen security checks on applicants from high-risk countries such as China, Russia, and Iran, in order to prevent academic espionage activities and to block the outflow of key technologies with military potential.
ETH Zurich and EPFL in Lausanne have officially implemented systematic reviews to conduct background checks on master’s students, doctoral students, and employees from countries sanctioned by Switzerland, the European Union, or the United States.
According to a report by “NZZ am Sonntag” on October 5, since the introduction of systematic security checks at ETH Zurich, approximately 1,250 files have been reviewed, and 80 foreign applications have been rejected, with China accounting for 38, followed by Iran (13), Russia (11), Pakistan (5), and other countries (13).
Silvia Nast, head of the export control office at the university, stated that the purpose of strengthening reviews is to prevent knowledge with potential military use from falling into the wrong hands.
EPFL in Lausanne has also recently implemented new security checks and has rejected 48 applications this year for reasons related to “academic security control”.
Western countries’ intelligence agencies have long accused China of various methods, including cyber espionage, forced technology transfer, and systematic large-scale theft of Western key technologies and intellectual property through academic exchange channels.
This behavior has sparked severe resistance from major global economies (including the United States and the European Union), leading sensitive technology-related institutions in Switzerland, including universities, to take preventive measures to protect their research outcomes from improper transfers.
A significant amount of research conducted at top Swiss universities, especially in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), falls under “dual-use technologies” that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
The reviews aim to prevent applicants from bringing back cutting-edge knowledge such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, network security, or advanced materials to their home countries, especially those applicants with indirect or direct connections to the Chinese military or intelligence agencies.
While Switzerland adheres to a policy of neutrality, it still needs to remain consistent with major trading partners regarding the implementation of international sanctions. Swiss universities are obliged to comply with the international sanctions adopted by the government.
In addition to the two federal institutes of technology, the University of Basel and the University of Bern have also begun implementing similar review systems.
Swissuniversities is currently discussing the development of a national set of standards for academic knowledge management and personnel security at universities to establish mechanisms for anti-infiltration reviews.
One of the backgrounds for universities to strengthen academic security checks is the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection, and Sport (DDPS) investing record funds in academic research, with the goal of allocating 2% of the military budget to Swiss research and development by 2030. This aligns with actions in Switzerland and the trends in the European Union.
The Council of Europe has adopted a list of 14 non-binding recommendations for universities and other research institutions to combat “improper transfer of knowledge, foreign interference, and ethical or integrity violations”.