Foreign academics to be screened for espionage risk

Danish universities to conduct background checks on certain foreign applicants to research programmes

Following a Danish Security Police (PET) pilot programme at Aarhus University, all technical sciences and natural sciences PhD and postdoc applicants to move to Denmark from China, Iran or Russia will be screened on the grounds of national security.

During the pilot, which lasted a year, between 5 per cent and 10 per cent of applicants were struck from the approvals process following background checks, according to the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.