The Irish Research Council (IRC) is targeting top international scientists to come to Ireland to carry out their work – with the promise of guaranteed access to EU funding and ties with other EU institutions.

Ireland is launching an audacious bid to actively poach the best academic brains from the UK in the wake of Brexit.

Britain's departure from the European Union will mean UK colleges losing €1bn worth of EU research grants.

That level of funding made Britain an attractive career destination, not only for UK researchers but also for those from across the EU and beyond.

With Britain outside the union, Ireland will now be the only English-speaking country in the EU. The Irish Research Council (IRC) is targeting top international scientists to come to Ireland to carry out their work - with the promise of guaranteed access to EU funding and ties with other EU institutions.

IRC director Dr ­Eucharia Meehan says Ireland was ­ideally placed to now attract the best emerging researchers in the UK and across Europe.

"The message is that the opportunities are in Ireland and, through Ireland, researchers have guaranteed access to European funding," she said.

An advertising campaign in a prominent British education publication promotes Ireland as an open and innovative destination for research of all kinds.

Meanwhile, Revenue officials are working to develop a post-Brexit electronic customs system where vehicles will be able to cross the border between north and south without having to stop. The Irish Independent understands informal contacts have already taken place between Irish customs officials and their UK counterparts.

Irish Independent