Australian universities will be prevented from collaborating with foreign institutions on a number of key areas, under a new plan from the Federal Government. 

The Morrison Government is working on a list of key technologies and research areas that will have to be protected from foreign adversaries under its new security regime. 

The government is attempting to crack down on espionage in universities by keeping foreign collaborators away from technologies capable of being weaponised, as well as high-value scientific advances at risk of intellectual property theft.

Reports say the new rules are being pushed by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet with support from ASIO, Home Affairs and the departments of Education and Industry.

A formal list of technologies and research areas “would provide universities with greater certainty about the areas where they need to be cautious, including when engaging with foreign institutions,” ASIO director-general Mike Burgess recently told parliament’s intelligence and security committee.

“Foreign intelligence services and their proxies are all too willing to take advantage of the openness that is integral to our universities and research institutions, to steal intellectual property and cutting-edge technologies.

“It would give publicly funded research agencies, universities and other institutions more surety when applying for research grants in sensitive areas. And, of course, it would also assist ASIO by enabling us to focus more closely on those activities that carry the potential for greatest harm.”

He said Defence is well aware of the kinds of technologies that should be protected because they have potential military purposes.

More expertise will be needed to consider other areas of commercially important research that need protection.

“The defence [technology] is more a clear space but more broadly there are, strategically, other research or technical things that could be of an economic interest, given the environment in which we live,” Mr Burgess said.

“There needs to be a consideration of, ‘Is that something we need to protect?’, not from everyone but from certain people for sure.”

The push comes in response to a string of revelations in local conservative media, which warn about scientists at major universities being recruited to China’s Thousand Talents Plan.