Intellectual property issues were discussed at the SCST board meeting

14 february 2020

Interesting

On February 14, 2020, a board meeting of the State Committee on Science and Technology (SCST) was held. It was attended by the First Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Mr. Maxim Ryzhenkov. During the meeting the SCST’s results of 2019 were discussed, the goals for 2020 were set, and the concept of the State Program for Innovative Development of the Republic of Belarus for 2021-2025 was presented as well.


The Chairman of the SCST Mr. Alexander Shumilin noted that in 2019 the innovative sphere saw the achievement of most of the aggregate target indicators of the innovative development of the Republic of Belarus. The indicator for the exports share of science- and technology-intensive products in total exports amount in 2019 exceeded 35% compared to anticipated 32.5%. The amount of scientific and technical products in 2019 exceeded 1 billion 100 thousand BYN.

According to Mr. Alexander Shumilin, the intellectual property market is developing steadily. In 2019, the number of agreements on the transfer of industrial property rights amounted to 778, which is 13% higher than in 2018. At the end of 2019, export of services in the field of fees for the use of intellectual property objects is expected to be $100 million.


He also noted that despite the achieved results, additional measures are needed for the commercialization of intellectual property objects.

Summing up the work of the board, Mr. Maxim Ryzhenkov stated that the main issues facing the country today include employment, a high standard of living, an adequate level of remuneration, treatment of social issues – all this is impossible without real development in the field of science, innovations, creation of new researches, and later on creation of new workplaces, high added value, and high level of remuneration.


The attention was also focused on the need to support and develop the intellectual property system of the Republic of Belarus, particularly taking into account the visit of the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization Mr. Francis Gurry in 2019, who met the Head of State Mr. Alexander Lukashenko during his visit.

“There are a number of agreements that are being successfully implemented,” said the First Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration. “However, there is a large range of activities in the country to encourage people who think creatively.”