OREANDA-NEWS. February 08, 2013. President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 59 “Concerning commercialization of the products of the scientific and technical activity made using state financing”.

The document provides for measures to promote development and application of the scientific research products.

In line with the Decree, the state customer has to ensure commercialization of the products of the scientific and technical activity for three years after they were made.

The customer who did not manage to commercialize the products of the scientific and technical activity in a year has to convey relevant rights to the interested resident of the Republic of Belarus. Meanwhile, the right to possessing products of the scientific and technical activity can be given to any organization regardless of the form of ownership that is capable of ensuring effective application of these products within a year since the organization has obtained rights to the products (the term can be prolonged to three years following the customer’s decision).

Therefore, the national register of rights to the products of the scientific and technical activity will be compiled in Belarus.

In order to promote commercializing of the products of the scientific and technical activity, the document provides certain tax preferences, including exemption from VAT and income tax, to persons who use the products included in the aforementioned national register. Moreover, the cost of the products obtained free of charge will not be included in the unrelated business income.

The Decree will help raise the efficiency of the scientific and innovation activity, enhance public-private partnership.