National Security and Investment Act
The National Security and Investment Act 2021 introduces powers for the Government to scrutinise certain transactions and investments, where the Government feels it poses a potential or actual risk to the country鈥檚 national security interests.
The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (the 鈥淎ct鈥) is a new piece of legislation creating obligations when acquiring rights over an entity, land or other asset, including intellectual property.
As a responsible institution, mindful of its charitable status, the University takes legal compliance very seriously. Compliance with the Act is not optional.
The University has a legal obligation to notify Government of proposed transactions in certain circumstances. There are no exceptions to compliance and criminal sanctions for non-compliance.
The focus of the Act is on transactions in one of the following 17 sensitive sectors of the economy:
- Advanced materials
- Advanced Robotics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Civil nuclear
- Communications
- Computing Hardware
- Critical suppliers to Government
- Cryptographic Authentication
- Data infrastructure
- Defence
- Energy
- Military and Dual Use (see also Export Controls)
- Quantum Technologies
- Satellite and Space Technologies
- Suppliers to the Emergency Services
- Synthetic Biology
- Transport