UK blocks University of Manchester robot vision deal with Chinese firm

A deal to license the University of Manchester's vision sensing technology for robots to China's Beijing Infinite Vision Technology Company has been blocked by the UK government on national security grounds. The university will not be able to license its SCAMP-5 and SCAMP-7 vision sensing technology to the Chinese firm after the deal was blocked via the National Security and Investment Act 2021. As outlined in the final order, business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the agreement has "dual-use applications" and the university's tech could be used in a way that "present national security risk to the United Kingdom". A spokesperson…