Illuminating Ties: The McGovern Institute's Engagement with the PLA in Brain-Inspired AI Research

Executive Summary

1. The McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, while a beacon of innovation in neuroscience, has extensive collaborations with Chinese institutions that present potential risks, including those that are linked to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

2. The establishment of IDG/McGovern Institutes in prestigious Chinese universities in 2011 signifies a deep intertwining of scientific goals and a potential gateway for intellectual property transfer.

3. The Shong Fund, created in 2015, while fostering joint scientific exchanges between MIT's McGovern Institute and Chinese partners, may inadvertently facilitate the sharing of sensitive research data with military applications to the PLA.

4. The Feng Laboratory at MIT, a nexus of neuroscience innovation, has broad affiliations with Chinese institutions and thus warrants particular scrutiny given the lab's cutting-edge research focus.

5. Dr. Guoping Feng, the lead at Feng Laboratory, combines advanced research methods which, if shared, could empower dual-use technologies beneficial for both civilian and military applications in China.

6. The Feng Laboratory's extensive affiliations, including notable institutions like the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, signal potential areas of risk given their ties to the Chinese government and military apparatus.

7. China's Institute for Brain Research (CIBR), with its roots intertwined with military interests, presents concerns about dual-use research, raising alarms about potential misuse of joint research outcomes.

8. The dual affiliation of personnel, such as Baolin Guo, exemplifies potential channels for technology and knowledge transfer between U.S. institutions and Chinese military-linked entities.

9. China's insights into U.S. Brain-Inspired AI research through the collaborations of the McGovern Institute with Chinese institutions offers the PLA a strategic vantage point, risking U.S. technological edge.

10. The intricate relationship between the McGovern Institute, Feng Laboratory, and Chinese military institutions necessitates stringent oversight to prevent unintended technology transfers and safeguard national interests.

11. Recommendations emphasize the urgency for comprehensive risk assessments, stringent intellectual property safeguards, and clear delineations in collaboration agreements to ensure research security.

12. The overarching theme underscores the critical importance of vigilance, transparency, and due diligence when navigating international collaborations, especially with entities having known affiliations with the PLA.