The Limitation Initiative is harmful to education, research and innovation

The Swiss universities and organisations that support the promotion of research and innovation are opposed to the popular initiative -For moderate immigration-. The initiative jeopardises some of the basic parameters that favour Switzerland's role as a centre for science and enterprise. Adopting the initiative would halt the free movement of persons and thus bring the research agreement with the EU to an end. In order to deliver outstanding performance, Switzerland's education, research and innovation (ERI) sector relies on the free movement of persons and close cooperation with other countries. The ETH Board, swissuniversities, the Swiss National Science Foundation, Innosuisse - the Swiss Innovation Agency, and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences reject the Limitation Initiative. They have organised today's joint press call in order to state their views on the Limitation Initiative and affirm the importance of research cooperation with Europe. Switzerland's position as a centre for education and research relies on the free movement of persons.