The Times: Tencent: Tech giant backed by Beijing funded Cambridge research

Screen Shot 2021-02-10 at 16.21.10.png

Jesus College, Cambridge, already has links with Tencent, the Chinese software company

Cambridge University received a “generous gift” from a Chinese software company with links to the communist regime to fund an engineering fellowship, The Times has learnt.

Financial backing from Tencent has propped up research into creating computers with quantum technology under the university’s new Dowling postdoctoral research fellowship.

Connections to the BBC have also emerged via Tim Davie, the broadcaster’s director-general, who was chief executive of its commercial arm when it signed a multimillion-pound deal with Tencent in 2018.

The CIA has said that financing from China’s Ministry of State Security was used to found Tencent. A Pentagon report released last month said that the company, which owns the Wechat app, had been working with Chinese security agencies on artificial intelligence.

Tencent also made a game called Clap for Xi Jinping: An Awesome Speech. The winners were those who generated the most applause for President Xi’s address to the 19th party congress.

To read the full article (paywall): Tech giant backed by Beijing funded Cambridge research

Business, Charity, Education, Higher Education, Media Article, politics, STEAM, STEM, Technology, ChinaSarah NorrisLando EducationCambridge University, Lando, Lando Education, Jesus College, Chinese, Chinese software company, gift, financial gift, Tim Davie, BBC, media article, The Times, Webchat app, Tencent, Pentagon, artificial intelligence, AI, lap for Xi Jinping: An Awesome Speech, Dowling postdoctoral research fellowshipComment