A GROUP of Scottish academics opposed to ­independence has attacked claims university research will be strengthened by a Yes vote.

Instead, the group argues an independent Scotland would put the future of ­Scottish universities and their major contributions to Scotland "at serious risk".

The warning comes after the Scottish Government published a report on research funding earlier this week. There is currently concern Scotland would miss out on significant research funding if the UK-wide research councils ceased to exist after independence.

Ministers have argued the existing arrangements could be preserved following negotiations with the government paper stating: "We will maintain effective existing collaborations that work well while extending our global reach with new networks and partnerships."

However, pro-Union academics, including Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said questions about the mechanisms for funding research remained unanswered.

In a letter to The Herald the academic group stated: "Plans are still based on the naive assumption that little will change with independence.

"A single research system between the two countries has already been rejected by the UK government. There are no precedents for such a system.

"Overall, the irony of the Scottish Government paper is that it lauds the virtues of the present UK system. If it is so good, isn't continuing membership of the Union a better option?"

Meanwhile, it has emerged Scottish universities generate one-quarter of the UK's research companies. New figures estimate university spin-out firms in Scotland have a total turnover of more than £300 million and the sector accounts for 26% of new UK companies generated by research, compared to Scotland's UK population share of 8.4%.

Education Secretary Michael Russell said: ­"Scotland punches above its weight when it comes to higher education."