The von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI), a Brussels-based aerospace institute, is investigating exchanges and collaborations between its scientists and a major Chinese defence contractor, but management at the Belgian-based non-profit did not reveal details. Collin Koh, a research fellow with the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at Singapore’s NTU, said research collaboration in dual-use [civilian and military] technology categories was often difficult to regulate and control. “These activities, which can be very basic forms of research and development, can potentially feed into larger projects that can have an explicitly military purpose,” he said.