Pharma industry joins push to reform Swedish immigration law

AstraZeneca joins calls to change rules to retain more international talent after doctoral education

Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has added its voice to calls demanding an amendment to Sweden’s Alien Act, which, they say, is causing talented researchers to leave the country.

Since last year’s introduction of the act, people from outside the EU who want to apply for permanent residency in Sweden need to prove they will be employed in the country for at least 18 months. This has led to concerns that international academics will leave Sweden, as many doctoral and research contracts are of shorter duration.