Glasgow Science Centre will axe more than one-fifth of its staff after it lost government funding to rivals in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.

The Clydeside attraction, by far the biggest venue of its kind in Scotland, yesterday said the jobs would have to go in the near future after what it called "dramatic cuts" in its annual subsidy.

The Scottish Government has increased overall funding for Scotland's four science centres, but cut spending on Glasgow by as much as 40% by 2010, sparking clashes between Labour and SNP at both Holyrood and Westminster.

Glasgow Science Centre, which opened to multiple teething problems in 2001 after a £75m investment, has traditionally enjoyed far more generous funding that its more modest sister operations - Satrosphere in Aberdeen, Sensation in Dundee and Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh.

Kirk Ramsay, the chief executive widely credited with turning around the Glasgow centre's fortunes in recent years, yesterday said he was looking to make 28 of his 130 staff redundant. "It is hoped that some of members of staff in redundant posts may be able to find new roles in the revised structure but 10% of staff are likely to go in the immediate future," Mr Ramsay said. "The centre is the only facility of its type in the West of Scotland and has international standing."

Mr Ramsay said the centre would have to streamline its operations to survive the cutbacks and preserve its core.The blow comes despite claims by the Scottish Government that the centre, which is in the Govan constituency of Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, would enjoy "a bright future". Its core subsidy will fall from £1.75m this financial year to an estimated £1.08m in 2010-2011. Satrosphere, Sensation and Dynamic Earth, which, until now, have received smaller subsidies than Glasgow for each visitor, will see their funding rise. Glasgow, however, will still get more than half the total pot for science centres, which will rise from £2.43m this year to £2.56m in three years.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We are planning to phase in a fairer and more sustainable funding package for Scotland's four science centres, based on visitor numbers, and the Glasgow Science Centre will also benefit from a two-year transition period. The running of the business of Glasgow Science Centre is ultimately a matter for its board."

Glasgow Science Centre had been gradually weaning itself off subsidies. Last year, core government funding accounted for one-quarter of its income, down from 43% when Mr Ramsay took over and well below an international average, for similar venues, of around 35%. The centre has built up its trading wing, largely by expanding sales at its gift shop and making more imaginative use of its facilities as a commercial venue. It has also enjoyed a boom in visitor numbers, with a record 480,000 last year.

Better commercial operations and higher visitor numbers have raised its overall revenues to £6m. The proposed cut in subsidies amounts to 5% of that figure next year and more than 10% by 2010-2011.

Mr Ramsay and his team effectively turned around Glasgow Science Centre after a difficult start. One of the centre's main attractions, the controversial revolving Glasgow Tower, broke down even before its official opening and was plagued with problems, resulting in an out-of-court settlement with its builder.