The head of Canada’s intelligence agency spoke openly about China’s interest in partnering with Canadian universities to gain a military edge during a conference with his Five Eyes counterparts on Tuesday.

“China has been very transparent,” Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Director David Vigneault said.

“Everything that they’re doing in our universities and in new technology, it’s going back into a system very organized to create dual-use applications for the military.”

Vigneault made the comments on stage during a rare public gathering with spy bosses from the U.S., the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.