Calls for EU funding for institutions like Edinburgh Uni to be secured in Brexit talks

There are calls for the future of EU funding for Scottish institutions such as Edinburgh University to be secured in ongoing Brexit negotiations.

In 2015 alone, Edinburgh University received £226m from European sources towards research projects.

But last week Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50, starting the process of the UK leaving the EU, and casting doubt of the future of such funding.

A number of Scottish Universities including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are classed as world-leading in certain fields of research and rely heavily on support.

In Scotland, research funds from EU Government bodies count for 11 per cent of all competitively-won research funding received.

Mary Senior, the Scottish official for UCU, says: "Research doesn't have borders. We want the closest possible relationship with European Union countries so that we can support collaborative research networks. Scottish higher education is a world leader and and that's because of the excellent collaboration we have.

"There's tremendous uncertainty and we need to ensure we keep our universities as international and outward-facing."