Efforts are needed to keep scientists from leaving Scotland

The call was made in a report due to be released on Tuesday by the Scottish Scientific Advisory Committee.

The committee's report also said that the Scottish Executive needs to do more to attract research stars from overseas.

Advisors want ministers to "act now" to prevent future problems.

Funding for long-term fellowship schemes to encourage talented younger scientists to stay in Scotland was also urged.

In the 21st century, low skill jobs are expected to drift to low wage countries and Scotland's economy will largely depend on offering goods and services resulting from cutting edge research.

We have to compete on a different platform and that platform is to exploit the science that we have and to really move that forwards Professor Wilson Sibbett Scottish Scientific Advisory Committee

As a result, advisors say ministers have to act now to make sure the scientists and engineers are available.

They estimate that a �5m package will have to be on offer for each "research star".

That is what they say it will take to cover salaries, research teams and equipment for up to five years.

Professor Wilson Sibbett, of the Scientific Advisory Committee, said ministers must act now to secure the future.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's recognised now that Scotland has to make a change of direction.

"It's not good enough just to try and compete with the emerging countries such as China and India because they will have serious advantages in terms of salary costs and so on.

"So we have to compete on a different platform and that platform is to exploit the science that we have and to really move that forwards."