This Law regulates relations in the field of scientific activity. It aims to create favourable conditions for research, strengthen state support for science as a prerequisite for economic and social development, raise the intellectual and cultural level of citizens, and reinforce the authority and independence of the State. The Law defines key concepts such as scientific activity, fundamental and applied research, approbation of research results, preparation and attestation of highly qualified scientific personnel, scientific organizations, accreditation of scientific organizations, temporary scientific collectives, scientific funds, and grants. It establishes that legal regulation in this sphere is based on the Constitution and carried out in accordance with this Law and other legislation. The Law enumerates the types of scientific activity, including fundamental and applied research, preparation and attestation of highly qualified researchers, approbation of research results, and organization of state scientific and scientific technical expertise within a unified system. It sets out the main principles of state regulation of scientific activity, such as combining state regulation with creative initiative and freedom of scientific inquiry, equality of all subjects of scientific activity before the law, freedom to choose research directions and methods, interaction between scientific organizations and educational institutions, equal opportunities for citizens to acquire and improve scientific qualifications, stimulation of investment in science, control over effective use of public funds, mandatory and competent state expertise of publicly funded programs and projects, legal protection of research results, concentration of resources on priority areas of socio economic development, and consideration of the interests of individuals, society and the State. It assigns state management functions in science to the President, the Council of Ministers, the State Committee on Science and Technology, the Higher Attestation Commission, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and other state bodies. It also provides for state policy in science to be formed in line with priority directions of scientific, scientific technical and innovation activity, and for state programs of scientific research and state scientific expertise of projects financed from the national budget. The Law regulates financing of scientific activity from the national and local budgets, scientific funds, organizations and other lawful sources. It defines subjects and participants of scientific activity (including foreign persons), their contractual relations, and the legal status, rights and duties of scientific workers. It details the organization and accreditation of scientific organizations and the creation and functioning of temporary scientific collectives. It sets rules on qualification of scientific workers, preparation of highly qualified personnel, dissertation councils, academic degrees and titles, procedures for appointment and remuneration of scientific staff, including supplements for academic degrees and titles. Finally, it defines the types of results of scientific activity (final, intermediate, incidental), establishes criteria and procedures for their evaluation, and provides that exclusive rights and legal protection of research results are ensured in accordance with legislation.
Belarus · 1996-10-21