National Innovative System
The national innovative system (NIS) is a contemporary institutional model of generation, spread and use of knowledge, its practical application, their implementation in new products, technologies, services in all areas of society.
The structure of the national innovation system meets current global trends and includes:
- knowledge production system (education and science – academic, university, industry, corporate);
- knowledge application system (commercial and non-profit organizations, including small and medium innovative business; integration entities: holdings, associations, groups, clusters; industries, regions);
- innovation infrastructure (scientific and/or technology parks, technology transfer centers, innovation centers, innovation and venture funds, other organizations);
- public administration system (governing bodies of scientific, technological and innovative activities);
- innovation environment (legal regulation, including forecasting and planning, prioritization, incentives, circulation of intellectual properties, including their commercialization; innovative culture of society).
In order to form an economy of innovation based on business initiative, personal interest in creating and widespread implementation of new technologies and industries, the Government of the Republic of Belarus is reforming the national innovation system in accordance with the the UN Economic Commission for Europe recommendations.
Systemic reforms include the adoption of legislation aimed at promoting the commercialization of intellectual property, centralizing and enhancing the transparency of innovation funds, and incorporating innovations into the overall national sustainable development strategy.
In order to integrate existing strategies within the framework of a longer-term policy in the Republic of Belarus, the National Strategy for Sustainable Socio Economic Development of the Republic of Belarus till 2030 has been developed, and for its implementation relevant five-year programs of socio-economic development are adopted.
One of the key objectives of the innovation policy described in the strategy is to facilitate the transition of the Republic of Belarus to a knowledge-based economy. The following measures are considered: modernization of the scientific sphere; creation of new scientific schools and implementation of strategic research and development programs; ensuring of integration into international processes and reproduction of currently available competent scientific and technical personnel.
Stimulation of the development of cluster structures focused on obtaining high-tech end products and transformation of the system of intellectual property rights for stimulation of the commercialization of R&D results are also specified.
Promotion of the development of a more creative economy is one of the priorities of the long-term policy. The State Innovation Development Program (SPID) for 2016-2020 is considered as a software tool for the practical implementation of the state strategy for the development of innovation and innovation policy. The program contains a number of promising goals and guidelines aimed at modernizing the Belarusian economy and increasing its competitiveness in world markets. The program consists of seven chapters, which are devoted to various aspects of planning and managing the process of innovation. The document also lists innovative projects that are designed to promote the formation of Belarus’s competitive advantage in the global market.
Besides the SPID application, R&D are regulated by the provisions of two types of financing programs: 1) State programs of scientific research (prev. “basic research”) and 2) State scientific and technical programs (prev. “applied research”). Both types of programs include the financing of R&D projects on a grant basis for the period of 2016–2020. The development of the programs is preceded by a complex and multi-stage planning process with the participation of various institutions, such as the National Academy of Sciences, other R&D centers, and government bodies.
In order to promote the development of interaction with foreign organizations of the State Committee for Science and Technology and the Belarusian Institute of System Analysis and Information Support of Scientific and Technical Sphere (BelISA), a national scientific and technical portal was created that offers comprehensive information on agreements on international cooperation in the scientific and technical sphere concluded by the Republic of Belarus. The Republic of Belarus is a member of the Interstate Program of Innovation Cooperation of the CIS Member States for the period up to 2020. The Republic of Belarus has also concluded a number of bilateral agreements on cooperation in the scientific and technical sphere with various countries and organizations.
In whole, there are over 80 different structures, functioning in the sphere of informational, consultative, organizational and other support of innovative activity.
Links to the Internet resources
National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus
State Committee on Science and Technology of the Republic of Belarus
Belarus National Information Point for the EU Research and Innovation Programmes
Belarusian Institute of System Analysis and Information Support for Scientific and Technical Sphere
BNTU Science and Technology Park "Polytechnic"
Higher Attestation Commission of the Republic of Belarus
National Centre of Intellectual Property
Republican Center for Technology Transfer (RCTT)