A revolution is underway in the field of intellectual property in Belarus! Starting in 2026, authors of scientific developments, inventions, and technologies will be legally entitled to compensation—and this is not just rhetoric, but a matter of specific figures.

Denis Korzhitsky, Chairman of the State Committee on Science and Technology, spoke about the key changes. We’re breaking down how much authors will be paid, how intellectual property will be evaluated, and why developments created with public funds will now be brought to market more actively.

The main innovation of 2026: authors' rights are now enshrined in law

What has changed?

Previously, an author's rights were regulated by internal organizational documents and contracts. As of 2026, these rights are now directly enshrined in the intellectual property law.

The key rule:

If an employee creates a development and the organization uses it for commercial purposes, the author is entitled to compensation both for creating the intellectual property object and for its use.

What this means in practice:

You invented a technology while working at a research institute or a plant?

Your organization uses your development for manufacturing and selling products?

You are entitled to payment—and this is not "at the discretion of management," but a legal guarantee.

Minimum compensation: 12.5 base values

How much is that in rubles?

In 2026, the base value in Belarus is 40 rubles.

12.5 base values = 12.5 × 40 = 500 rubles.

Important: this is the MINIMUM. The organization may pay more—according to a contract, agreement, or internal rules.

Who receives it:

• Authors of developments created within the framework of employment relations.
• Authors of developments created under civil law contracts.
• Authors of developments created by order of legal entities.

What they are paid for:

• Creating an intellectual property object (a patent, utility model, industrial design, computer program, database, etc.).
• Using the object in commercial activities (production, sale, licensing).

Example:

You worked at a plant and invented a new metal processing technology. The plant patented the technology and uses it to manufacture products. You are entitled to:

• Compensation for creating the patent (minimum 500 rubles).
• Compensation for using the patent commercially (the amount depends on the profit generated by the technology).

Intellectual property evaluation: 100 appraisers and a new technical code

Problem:

Evaluating intellectual property is more complex than tangible assets.

A car retains its value even if it sits in a garage.

A technology or industrial design without practical application can significantly lose its value over time.

Solution:

There are about 100 intellectual property appraisers working in Belarus. In the near future, it is planned to approve a technical code that will define how to choose methods for valuing IP.

What the code will provide:

• Objective determination of the value of developments.
• Transparency in the transfer of rights, conclusion of licensing agreements, and calculation of author's remuneration.
• Protection of the interests of both authors and organizations.

IP Valuation Methods:

• Cost approach: how much it cost to create the development (salaries, equipment, materials).
• Market approach: how much similar developments are worth on the market.
• Income approach: how much profit the development will generate in the future (discounted cash flows).

Important: The technical code will help choose the correct method for each case.

Developments funded by the budget: mandatory commercialization according to Decree No. 59

What is Decree No. 59?

This is a document that regulates the commercialization of the results of scientific and scientific-technical activity, created fully or partially using state funds.

Key rule:

The results of R&D, created using budget funds, are subject to mandatory commercialization in the manner and terms specified by the decree.

Terms:

Commercialization must be carried out within 3 years from the date of creation of the development.

If commercialization is not carried out within 3 years, the state customer is obliged to transfer the property rights to another resident of Belarus.

Who is responsible for commercialization:

The National Center of Intellectual Property (NCIP) has developed a methodology for choosing commercialization methods. It is currently being updated to account for not only legal but also economic aspects of transferring rights.

Commercialization methods:

• Licensing: transferring the right to use the development in exchange for a fee.
• Sale of rights: full transfer of property rights to an organization.
• Creating a startup: the author or organization creates a company to implement the development.
• Contribution to the authorized capital: the development is transferred to an organization in exchange for a share in the business.

Example:

The research institute has developed a new technology for waste processing using budget funds. Over the course of 3 years, the RII must:

• Find an organization that will purchase a license for the technology.
• Or sell the rights to the technology.
• Or create a startup to implement the technology.

If nothing is accomplished within 3 years, the rights will be transferred to other organizations.

Statistics: How many authors have already received compensation?

Data from the National Center for Intellectual Property:

In 2025, more than 1,500 patents were granted in Belarus for inventions, utility models, and industrial prototypes.

More than 6,000 authors and rightsholders received protection of their rights through the NCI.

About 100 IP evaluators work in the country—this number is growing.

Trends for 2026:

• Increase in the number of patent applications from individual authors (not just from organizations).
• Growing interest from banks in evaluating IP (for intellectual property collateralized loans).
• Increase in the number of licensing agreements (organizations are purchasing more often the rights to use the developments).

Tips for authors: How to receive maximum compensation

Document everything. Keep a laboratory journal, save drafts, prototypes, correspondence with management. This will prove that development was your own.

Conclude a contract. If you are working under a contract...