All master’s degree students and researchers who are working with “sensitive” technologies are to undergo compulsory screening in an effort to protect the Netherlands against espionage and theft by foreign powers.

The measure is necessary to “protect our security and economy, in a world in which there is increasing interest in knowledge which we want to keep to ourselves,” education minister Eppo Bruins said.

The minister wanted to restrict screening to students from outside the EU, but has widened the scope because of the risk of discrimination he told MPs this week.

In 2022, the security services and counter terrorism unit warned that technology is being developed at Dutch universities and colleges which was sensitive to espionage and theft.

This includes military technology, such as arms, as well as microchips and software systems.

Screening will require a major effort and the minister said he will give more clarity in a few months about what studies and research will be included.

In the past Iranian researchers have been excluded from projects that could involve contact with ballistic missile technology, but this was deemed discrimination by the courts.

China has been involved in funding chairs at several Dutch universities and Delft has had close ties with a number of Chinese educational establishments.

In 2020, for example, Amsterdam universities UvA and VU entered into a close collaboration with controversial Chinese tech company Huawei despite government warnings,

The plan to introduce screening foreign students was introduced by the previous government and at the time insiders said it would be 2028 at the earliest before screening would start.