Swiss firms and universities face Chinese espionage threat

Chinese espionage is a concern for Swiss companies and universities, SRF reports, as the Nvidia case draws attention to the risk. A woman who had an extramarital relationship with the company’s now-resigned chief executive, Jensen Huang, is suspected of working for China. There is no evidence that company secrets were leaked.

Historian and University of Fribourg lecturer Ariane Knüsel said that, in similar cases in Switzerland, suspected spies typically try to build a friendship with an employee, pay them for information or recruit them to work for a Chinese company. She said using a romantic relationship to obtain information was not a common pattern in Switzerland.

In a report published in June, the Federal Intelligence Service ranked Russia and China as the biggest espionage threats to Switzerland. Swissmem, the umbrella organisation for the country’s mechanical, electrical and metal industries, said it works with the intelligence service and outside specialists, including by organising seminars on espionage.

Universities are also taking precautions. ETH Zurich, a university, has introduced security checks for some applications from international students. Of 80 applications reviewed, 38 were from China; all were rejected after the checks were introduced. ETH Zurich said this did not mean the applicants were suspected of espionage and that each application was assessed individually. Factors included international sanctions and the risk of transferring dual-use technologies, which can have both civilian and military applications.

Gerhard Andrey, a Green Party member of parliament from Fribourg, said companies and universities had not done enough and called for a strategy to protect universities from espionage. Parliament has yet to decide whether to tighten the legal framework, leaving stronger protections for businesses and research institutions under discussion.