Scores of projects across the Highlands and islands are poised to lose out on more than £100million in EU funding following the referendum.
The shock result will end the distribution of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF) cash.
More than £750million was due to be handed to Scotland in this funding round – with more than £150million going to the Highlands and islands.
The ESF money is awarded to support unemployed, economically inactive and disadvantaged people, while the ERDF is invested in small business projects and research.
The 2007-2013 awards have already been committed, but it is unclear what will happen to projects in the 2014-2020 programme, and there will be no further awards after that.
There are at least six other EU funding programmes which the Highlands have previously benefited from.
Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson said: “Overall the Highlands has done very well out of the Europe.
“After we get hold of the money in this round, that will be the end of it.
“We will have to see how we fund these things in the future.”
Ms Davidson added: “I think a lot of us are in shock and are working out what it will mean for the Highlands.
“I think it’s going to take some time to digest it. People I have met are very surprised.
“My job now is to just make sure I keep the interests of the Highlands at the heart of everything we do.”
Among the dozens of Highland projects in the last ESF funding round, Inverness College was supposed to secure more than £700,000, Lews Castle College got £60,000 for access to further education courses, Moray College was to receive £180,000 and Merkinch Enterprise in Inverness was to get three grants worth more than £320,000.
North Highland College in Thurso was in line for eight grants worth about £1.5million, while 16 Highland Council-led projects were due to get close to £2million.
