Prof Sir Paul Nurse has said that UK research would suffer if the country were to leave the EU.

A British exit would make it harder to get funding for science and sell “future generations short”, the Nobel Prize winner added.

But a group of scientists arguing to leave the EU counters that UK research would not be adversely affected.

They say British institutions would receive similar amounts of European funding as they do now.

A national referendum on the UK’s participation in the European Union is set for 23 June.

Prof Nurse, who is director of The Francis Crick Institute and the former president of the Royal Society, believes those who campaign for a “Brexit” are jeopardising “the long-term future of the UK for short-term political advantage”.

“We need a vision for our future that is ambitious and not to run away and bury our heads in the sand, and we can best do this by staying in the EU. We should not be side-tracked by short-term political opportunism.”

Prof Nurse was speaking at a news briefing about the impact of a withdrawal on UK science. He was joined by other research leaders who also want Britain to remain inside the EU.

“Being in the EU gives us access to ideas, people and to investment in science,” Prof Nurse said.

“That, combined with mobility (of EU scientists), gives us increased collaboration, increased transfer of people, ideas and science – all of which history has shown us drives science.”

Prof Nurse added that as part of the EU, the UK has influence in directing research among nations that collectively have become a “powerhouse” of science on a par with the US and China.