Research Risk to Strategic Advantage: ASPI's Trusted Intelligence
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is the Indo-Pacific's premier independent defence and security think tank. With a mission to provide non-partisan analysis that informs public debate and shapes policy, ASPI produces world-class research, expert commentary, and data-driven intelligence across defence strategy, cyber and technology security, national security, counter-terrorism, critical minerals, climate and security, and more.
As part of this broader mission, ASPI has developed two specialised intelligence platforms: the China Defence Universities Tracker (CDUT) and the Critical Technology Tracker (CTT). These products deliver distinct but complementary capabilities at the intersection of research security, technology competition, and geopolitical risk. They are used by government departments, media organisations, think tanks, and academic institutions to assess strategic risk and navigate international research collaborations.
The CDUT maps ties between over 180 Chinese universities and research entities to China's military and security apparatus, providing visibility into dual-use research networks. Following a major expansion, the CDUT now offers twice the data across 180+ entity profiles, incorporating China-Russia and China-Iran collaboration and partnership data, critical technology integrations, and a comprehensive Joint Ventures dashboard. This enables organisations to make faster, evidence-based decisions while streamlining due diligence and maintaining regulatory compliance.
The CTT covers 74 critical technologies across defence, space, energy, biotechnology, AI, computing, and materials, drawing on over 20 years of historical performance data. It enables head-to-head country and alliance comparisons, tracks the flow of human talent across borders, and reveals research volume and contributions at a granular level. This allows organisations to move beyond reactive decision-making, identifying emerging patterns, threats and opportunities across critical global technologies.
ASPI's research teams maintain a continuous cycle of data updates, geographic expansions, and new analytical capabilities across both platforms. Our product roadmap is continuously evolving to meet customer needs, be responsive to a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, and help subscribers navigate uncertainty with strategic foresight. By partnering with ASPI, your organisation can confidently transform complex geopolitical data into a definitive strategic advantage.