Law of Georgia on Science, Technology and Their Development

 

 

LAW OF GEORGIA

ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT

Law of Georgia No 672 of 30 April 1997 – the Official Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia No 21-22, 31.5.1997, p. 14

 

This Law forms a legal basis for state policy in the area of development of science and technology, which is a precondition for the intellectual and technological progress and welfare of the country. The state recognises that scientific and technological progress is one of the main factors for the development, improvement of welfare and self-enrichment of the society, and that it facilitates the manifestation of intellectual capabilities and the economic development of the country. The state ensures the development of humanities, natural and technical sciences as integral parts of national culture and education, and perceives scientific research as a form of creative activity. Activities in the field of development of science and technology include fundamental and applied research and its development, application of outcomes, and improvement of existing technologies and equipment in order to raise the production level and to produce competitive products. The state shall draw up a policy in this field in accordance with state interests and capabilities, determine the forms of state participation in the development of science and technology and establish agencies to protect state interests and rights. This Law determines the basic goals and principles of state policy in the field of development of science and technology, the authorities of state legislative and executive bodies in the implementation of the policy, the creative freedom and responsibilities of scientists, and the legal rules and guarantees for the scientific activities and educational activities. The state recognises its obligation to increase funding for the development of science.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

 

Section I – Main Provisions

 

Article 1 – Legislation of Georgia on the development of science and technology

The legislation of Georgia on the development of science and technology consists of this Law and other legislative acts that regulate public relations in this field.

 

Article 2 – State policy in the field of science and technology and its principles

State policy in the field of development of science and technology is a part of the social and economic policy of Georgia and is a system of strategic goals and objectives supported by the legislation of Georgia that ensures the following:

a) development of science, creation and attraction of new technologies, establishment of new or modernisation of existing enterprises by using those technologies, and overall support for other innovation activities (creation and application of technological and technical innovations);

b) prioritisation of certain areas of science and facilitation of their development based on the forecasts of the social and economic development of Georgia;

c) democratic management and demonopolisation of the field of science and technology, facilitation of the self-regulation of innovation activities, freedom of scientific activities, participation of the scientific community in the development of state policy in the field of science and technology;

d) support for gradual integration of intellectual and material potential of scientific and scientific research institutions;

e) support for entrepreneurship and competition in the field of science and technology;

f) development of international collaboration in the field of science;

g) implementation of joint higher education programmes by cooperation between higher educational institutions and scientific research institutions.

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

Law of Georgia No 5504 of 22 June 2016 – website, 12.7.2016

 

Article 3 – Entities implementing state policy in the field of science and technology

1. State authorities are the entities implementing state policy in the field of science and technology.

2. State policy in the field of science and technology applies to legal persons (scientific research institutions, higher educational institutions) and natural persons (scientists).

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

 

Section II – Management of the Development of Science and Technology

 

Chapter I – Organisational Structures and Entities of Management

 

Article 4 – Authority of the Parliament of Georgia

When reviewing the state budget of Georgia, the Parliament of Georgia shall approve budgetary allocations for the development of science and technology, determine state policy in this field and monitor the implementation thereof.

Law of Georgia No 672 of 30 April 1997 – the Official Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia No 21-22, 31.5.1997, p. 14

 

Article 5 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 672 of 30 April 1997 – the Official Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia No 21-22, 31.5.1997, p. 14

Law of Georgia No 2017 of 28 May 1999 – LHG I, No 20(27), 9.6.1999, Art. 89

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 1043 of 6 September 2013 – website, 23.9.2013

 

Article 5 ^{​ 1} – Authority of the Government of Georgia

1. To implement state policy in the field of the development of science and technology, the Government of Georgia shall:

a) prepare proposals on the volume of scientific research and its development plans, and determine the necessary strategic research programmes for the country;

a ^{​ 1} ) determine state priorities in the development of science and technology on the basis of recommendations of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, and submit proposals regarding state policy in the area of development of science and technology to the Parliament of Georgia;

b) provide grounds for state scientific priorities and scientific and technological programmes (projects) and ensure their implementation in an organised manner using state financial resources;

c) facilitate the development of fundamentally new technologies in the production of high technology products in order to increase the export potential of the country, and the application of acknowledged background technologies by introducing scientific and technological achievements of Georgia in production and by attracting foreign licences;

d) ensure protection of the results of intellectual (results of scientific research and their development plans) and other scientific and technological activities, including protection of know-how; also registration of information on the standardisation, metrology and certification, and scientific and technical information, or on state research and its development plans, as well as effective operation of state systems and their compliance with international requirements;

e) facilitate development of science and technology within the framework of the legislation of Georgia by means of financing it from the state budget as well as from state grants, or by means of indirect promotion;

f) ensure international cooperation in the area of development of science and technology;

g) ensure state expertise (appraisal) of the development of science and technology and the activities by legal entities under public law scientific research institutions;

h) facilitate innovation activities for providing a base in the field of scientific production and services;

i) submit annual reports on the development of science and technology to the Parliament of Georgia.

2. (Deleted – 15.7.2020, No 7000- რს )

3. State authorities of Georgia shall be responsible for implementing a state policy on the development of science and technology in an appropriate area of state governance.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 1043 of 6 September 2013 – website, 23.9.2013

Law of Georgia No 5504 of 22 June 2016 – website, 12.7.2016

Law of Georgia No 7000 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.7.2020

 

Article 6 – State and public associations of scientists

1. The following institutions operate in Georgia:

a) the Legal Entity under Public Law (LEPL) Georgian National Academy of Sciences with full autonomous rights and state financing;

b) the Legal Entity under Public Law (LEPL) Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences with full autonomous rights and state financing;

c) public associations of scientists.

1 ^{​ 1} . The Legal Entity under Public Law Kutaisi International University shall be established under a law, and it shall not be subject to the rules of organisational structure and activities determined by this Law.

2. The associations under paragraph 1 of this article shall participate in determining state policies and priorities in the field of science and technology, and in drawing up, examining and implementing state scientific and technological programmes (projects).

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 4560 of 25 November 2015 – website, 8.12.2015

Law of Georgia No 5277 of 1 November 2019 – website, 4.11.2019

 

Article 7 – Relationship of state authorities with public scientific and technical associations

1. The state shall ensure favourable conditions for the activities of public scientific and scientific and technical associations to attract them for making and implementing fundamental decisions in the field of development of science and technology.

2. For conducting independent examination of state scientific and technological programmes (projects) and scientific research and its development plans, the executive authorities shall invite the representatives of public scientific and scientific and technical associations, and under their coordination provide society with information on safety, ecological cleanliness and social and economic importance of new technologies and new types of products.

Law of Georgia No 672 of 30 April 1997 – the Official Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia No 21-22, 31.5.1997, p. 14

 

Article 8 – Guarantees for scientists

1. Scientists shall have the right:

a) to carry out scientific research without external intervention and publish research results without any limitation, except for cases when there are some limitations imposed on them under an agreement or if the results contain state secrets;

b) to determine the content, method and means of a scientific research independently;

b¹) to participate in the implementation of higher education programmes as provided for by the legislation of Georgia;

c) in addition to carrying out scientific research activities, to participate in the competitions for obtaining grants, also to enjoy the right of receiving an individual grant/grants and to receive additional funding;

d) to exercise other rights granted under this Law and the legislation of Georgia.

2. Labour relations of a scientist shall be regulated by this Law and the labour legislation of Georgia.

3. Labour and other social guarantees of a scientist shall be determined by this Law, the legislation of Georgia, a labour agreement and by a statute of a scientific research institution (internal regulations).

4. A scientist shall not be restricted to work part-time.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

 

Article 9 – Obligations of a scientist

1. Obligations of a scientist are determined by this Law, a statute (internal regulations) of a scientific research institution and/or by terms and conditions of a labour agreement.

2. A scientist is obliged to:

a) meet the requirements determined by the statute (internal regulations) of a scientific research institution;

b) perform the obligations under a labour agreement;

c) submit an annual report on the works performed to the scientific council;

c¹) ensure high quality of teaching and research activities if he/she participates in the implementation of higher education programmes;

d) perform other requirements under international agreements and treaties and the legislation of Georgia.

3. A scientific research institution shall ensure freedom of research for scientific personnel and provide conditions necessary for their activities.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

 

Article 10 – Scientific research institutions

1. A scientific research unit (institute, centre, laboratory, etc.) may exist as a legal entity under public law or a legal entity under private law scientific research institution, or as a structural unit of a higher educational institution or the Georgian National Academy of Sciences. A legal entity under public law scientific research institution (institute, centre, laboratory, etc.) may be also established under the auspices of a university, upon the consent of such university.

2. The Government of Georgia may establish a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity under private law scientific research institution.

3. A scientific research unit of a higher educational institution (‘the scientific research unit’) may exist as an independent scientific research unit of the university or its main educational unit.

4. The activities of an independent scientific research unit, the structural unit of a higher educational institution, and an independent scientific research unit of the main educational unit shall be regulated by the Law of Georgia on Higher Education.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 3988 of 14 December 2006 – LHG I, No 48, 22.12.2006, Art. 355

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

 

Article 10 ^{​ 1} – A legal entity under public law scientific research institution

1. A legal entity under public law scientific research institution (including an institute, a centre, etc.) ('institution') shall be established, transformed and shall terminate its activities by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia.

2. (Deleted – 27.11.2015, No 4584).

3. The operating procedures of an institution are determined by the statute approved by the body carrying out state control. If the state control over the institution is not carried out by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, the statute of the institution shall be approved in coordination with the Ministry.

3¹. The institution shall have the right, on the basis of an agreement concluded with a higher educational institution, to participate in the preparation and implementation of the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral educational programmes, as well as in the preparation of the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral papers and theses by the students.

3².  The institution shall have the right, on the basis of an agreement concluded with a higher educational institution, to engage students in the scientific grant projects, local and international scientific conferences and scientific research activities.

4. The institution, irrespective of its legal form, is obliged to submit for review an annual scientific report of its activities to the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

Law of Georgia No 3029 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.7.2018

Law of Georgia No 351 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.3.2021

Law of Georgia No 3837 of 30 November 2023 – website, 15.12.2023

 

Article 10 ^{​ 2} – Scientific council of the institution

1. The scientific council of the institution shall comprise the chief research fellows.

2. The scientific council shall discuss and resolve issues related to scientific management and development of the institution.

2¹. If the institution implements joint higher education programmes in cooperation with a higher educational institution, the scientific council of the institution shall participate in the process of monitoring of the research component.

3. Activities of the scientific council are administered by a chairperson, who is elected from the members of the council by a majority of the members on the list and who is not an administrative official.

4. (Deleted – 27.11.2015, No 4584).

5. The powers, term of office and the procedure for terminating powers of the chairperson of the scientific council shall be determined by the statute of the institution.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 3899 of 3 July 2015 – website, 10.7.2015

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

 

Article 10 ^{​ 3} – Director of the institution

1. The institution is represented by its Director.

2. A person who holds a Doctor’s or equivalent academic degree, who is not over 65 years of age and who has at least 5 years of experience in scientific and research activities and/or on management positions, may be appointed as the Director of the institution.

3. The Director of the institution shall be appointed for a five-year term. The same person may be appointed as the Director of the institution only for two consecutive terms.

4. The Director of the institution shall be appointed by the head of the body carrying out state control over the institution.

5. The Director of the institution shall be dismissed by the head of the body carrying out state control over the institution in the case of expiry of the term of office of the Director, or in other cases provided for by the statute (internal regulations) of the institution.

6. Prior to the appointment to the position of the Director of the institution as provided for by this article, the head of the body carrying out state control over the institution shall have the right to appoint an acting Director of the institution.

7. The Director of the institution shall have the right to determine, in coordination with the scientific council of the institution, the fee for services provided by the institution. Other rights and duties of the Director of the institution shall be determined by the statute of the institution.

8. The rules established by paragraphs 2-6 of this article shall not apply to the institutions operating within the system of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 1915 of 3 November 2009 – LHG I, No 35, 19.11.2009, Art. 225

Law of Georgia No 4205 of 22 February 2011 – website, 10.3.2011

Law of Georgia No 3899 of 3 July 2015 – website, 10.7.2015

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

Law of Georgia No 104 of 16 December 2016 – website, 27.12.2016

Law of Georgia No 1356 of 4 February 2026 – website, 5.2.2026

 

Article 10 ^{​ 4} – Structural units of the institution

1. The number of structural units of the institution (a laboratory, a department, a centre, etc.) is determined by the staff list approved by the scientific council as provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

2. The head of a scientific structural unit of the institution shall be elected by the scientific council of the institution on an open competition basis and approved by the director of the institution as provided for by the statute of the institution. A person, who meets the requirements established for a chief research fellow or senior research fellow of the institution, may be elected as the head of the scientific structural unit of the institution. If a person does not hold the position of a chief research fellow or a senior research fellow at the institution, in the case of his/her election as the head of the scientific structural unit of the institution, he/she shall be also considered as elected to a respective scientific position.

3. The head or a non-scientific structural unit of the institution shall be appointed by the director of the institution according to the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

 

Article 10 ^{​ 5} – State control of an institution

State control of an institution is carried out by a state administration body or a legal entity under public law determined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 1043 of 6 September 2013 – website, 23.9.2013

Law of Georgia No 3899 of 3 July 2015 – website, 10.7.2015

 

Article 10 ^{​ 6} – Personnel of an institution

1. The personnel of an institution consists of scientific, administrative and assisting personnel.

2. The scientific personnel of the institution includes research staff, scientists, who are directly involved in and/or manage scientific research.

3. Scientific positions at the institution include:

a) a research fellow;

b) a senior research fellow;

c) a chief research fellow.

4. Administrative personnel of the institution include:

a) a director;

b) a deputy director (deputies of the director).

5. Administrative personnel may not occupy other administrative positions or at the same time be the head of any structural unit of the institution.

6. Scientific, administrative and assisting personnel of the institution are determined by the staff list of the institution.

7. The director of the institution shall enter into labour agreements with the administrative and assisting personnel of the institution for a term determined by the labour legislation of Georgia.

8. The director of an institution shall enter into labour agreements with the scientific personnel of the institution in coordination with the head of an appropriate structural unit (department, laboratory, centre, etc.) of the institution, as provided for by the statute of the institution.

9. The heads of the structural units of the institution are not administrative officials of the institution.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

 

Article 10 ^{​ 7} – Appointment of scientific personnel

1. Scientific personnel may be appointed only on an open competition basis, which must comply with the principles of transparency, equality and fair competition.

2. A research fellow may be a person holding a Master's or its equivalent academic degree. A person may be appointed as a research fellow for the term determined by the statute of the institution.

3. A senior research fellow may be a person who holds the Doctor’s or its equivalent academic degree. A person may be appointed as a senior research fellow for the term determined by the statute of the institution.

4. A chief research fellow may be a person holding the Doctor’s or its equivalent academic degree, with at least 6 years of experience in scientific research work and having special scientific achievements, who meets the conditions determined by the statute of the institution. A person shall be appointed as a chief research fellow for indefinite term. A chief research fellow shall undergo attestation once in every five years according to the procedure established by the statute of the institution.

5. The date of the competition and other requirements for the appointment to a scientific position shall be published 1 month prior to the submission of documents according to the procedures established by the legislation of Georgia and the statute of the institution.

6. The procedure and other requirements of the competition shall be determined by the director of the institution in coordination with the head of a structural unit of the institution.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

 

Article 11 – Labour relations with scientific and administrative personnel

1. Labour agreements with scientific personnel shall be concluded for a term determined by the labour legislation.

2. A person, who is over 65 years of age, may not be elected or appointed to an administrative position of the institution. The attainment of the age of 65 shall not result in the termination of powers of a person elected/appointed to an administrative position of the institution.

2¹. A decision on making derogations from the age limitation, determined by paragraph 2 of this article, at the institution under the auspices of a legal entity under public law the university shall be made by the scientific council of the institution.

3. Scientific personnel may be dismissed from their position on the basis of:

a) an application of the scientific personnel;

b) expiration of a labour agreement concluded for a definite term;

c) gross or systematic violation of disciplinary standards;

d) violation of the conditions determined by a labour agreement;

e) (deleted – 27.11.2015, No 4584);

f) other cases determined by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

 

Article 12 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 4584 of 27 November 2015 – website, 10.12.2015

 

Chapter II – Participation of the State in the Development of Science and Technology

 

Article 13 – Determining state priorities

State priorities for the development of science and technology shall be determined on the basis of social and economic and scientific and technological development forecasts of Georgia.

 

Article 14 – Implementation of state scientific and technological programmes (projects)

1. State scientific and technological programmes (projects) shall be prepared and implemented for accomplishing state priorities in the development of science and technology according to procedures determined by the Government of Georgia.

2. The head of scientific and technological programmes (projects) shall be responsible for the implementation of those programmes, and shall be entitled to distribute the financial resources allocated for those purposes among the programme (project) participants.

Law of Georgia No 672 of 30 April 1997 – the Official Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia No 21-22, 31.5.1997, p. 14

Law of Georgia No 1043 of 6 September 2013 – website, 23.9.2013

 

Article 15 – Financial support of the development of science and technology

1. Financial support of the development of science and technology includes the targeted use of state budget funds and various non-budgetary sources of financing.

2. Scientific research shall be financed under a grant system from state budgetary allocations together with the budgetary (basic) financing of the institution. Based on an expert's appraisal, scientific research may be also financed within the state budgetary allocations by an appropriate state authority under the contractual terms and on the basis of the competition.

3. Scientists, temporary scientific groups, institutions, and other organisational units and persons have equal rights to participate in the competition.

Law of Georgia No 672 of 30 April 1997 – the Official Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia No 21-22, 31.5.1997, p. 14

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

 

Article 15 ^{​ 1} – Legal entities under public law science foundations

1. For financing scientific research from state budgetary allocations under the grant system, and on the basis of competition, the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia shall establish the Legal Entity under Public Law (LEPL) called Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia and other LEPLs science foundations ('science foundation’) in coordination with the Prime Minister of Georgia.

2. The operating procedures and structure of science foundations shall be determined by a statute approved by an order of the Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia. The head of a science foundation shall be appointed and dismissed by the Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia in coordination with the Prime Minister of Georgia.

3. The fee that may be determined for services rendered by the LEPL Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia shall be approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia.

4. The identity of the experts, who evaluate the projects submitted within the framework of the grant competition/competitions administered by the science foundation, shall be confidential.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 1915 of 3 November 2009 – LHG I, No 35, 9.11.2009, Art. 225

Law of Georgia No 2942 of 20 April 2010 – LHG I, No 23, 4.5.2010, Art. 124

Law of Georgia No 3445 of 16 July 2010 – LHG I, No 42, 22.7.2010, Art. 267

Law of Georgia No 6303 of 25 May 2012 – website, 12.6.2012

Law of Georgia No 1045 of 16 June 2017 – website, 27.6.2017

Law of Georgia No 1113 of 28 June 2017 – website, 10.7.2017

Law of Georgia No 3029 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.7.2018

Law of Georgia No 351 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.3.2021

Law of Georgia No 3837 of 30 November 2023 – website, 15.12.2023

 

Article 16 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

 

Article 17 – Training and attestation of scientific and scientific technical personnel

1. Scientific and scientific technical personnel shall be trained on the basis of the continuity of training using various forms and methods of training.

2. The state shall guarantee the training of scientific and scientific technical personnel at the legal entities under public law higher educational institutions and scientific research units, the necessary allocations from the state budget and the acceptance of scientific degrees abroad (the applicability of the nostrification system).

3. For merging higher education and research activities, the state shall establish a system for the selection of talented young people and their continuous training for their future creative scientific activities, and also provide preferential conditions for the organisations engaged in the selection and training of young people; in addition the state shall support higher educational institutions, academies of science and other scientific research units, and develop a network of research and manufacturing complexes and other forms for the training of highly qualified specialists.

4. (Deleted – 21.6.2002, No 1522).

5. In order to support the training and internship of scientific and scientific technical personnel at leading scientific centres abroad, the state shall allocate budgetary resources and provide necessary conditions for attracting foreign funds and financial resources from the institutions, organisations and citizens.

6. The state shall establish state awards, nominee prizes and honorary degrees for persons who have significantly contributed to the development of science and the application of its outcomes in practice, and also who have contributed to the training of local scientific and scientific technical personnel.

Law of Georgia No 672 of 30 April 1997 – the Official Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia No 21-22, 31.5.1997, p. 14

Law of Georgia No 1522 of 21 June 2002 – LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 80

Law of Georgia No 104 of 16 December 2016 – website, 27.12.2016

 

Article 18 – Protection of intellectual and industrial property

1. Intellectual and industrial property and outcomes of other scientific and technological activities, including know-how, are the property of the state, or a natural or a legal person (persons), and the state shall ensure their legal protection.

2. Legal and economic relations related to the creation, protection and use of intellectual and industrial property shall be regulated by appropriate legislation of Georgia and international agreements and treaties of Georgia.

3. The legal regime of the outcomes of activities that are carried out in the field of science and technology and are financed from the state budget shall be determined by appropriate legislation of Georgia.

 

Article 19 – Providing information to the public

1. In order to provide information to the public, the state shall implement diversified programmes, establish state information resources, participate in the creation of international data banks and information networks, and shall guarantee access to and right of using that information.

2. By developing appropriate information networks the state shall gather, process, protect and disseminate raw information.

3. Information on information technology (IT) activities, including the access to and dissemination of information containing state, business and commercial secrets, shall be regulated by the appropriate legislation of Georgia and international agreements and treaties of Georgia.

 

Article 20 – State examination

1. State examination shall be carried out for the scientific support of state scientific and technological programmes (projects) and for the appraisal of the level of applied scientific research and developments, the technological part of production facilities under construction, new technologies and equipment and other scientific and technical products, and for the determination of expected outcomes of their use.

2. State and public, as well as foreign organisations or individual experts may participate in the state examination.

3. Institutions, organisations and individual experts may participate in the state examination on the basis of an agreement, in which the works related to the examination are identified. The costs thereof shall be included in the total expenditures of the company for carrying out scientific research and technological activities, and in the cost estimation of facilities under construction and reconstruction.

 

Chapter III – State Support for the Development of Science and Technology

 

Article 21 – State support for innovation activities

1. The state shall guarantee the protection of innovation activities of all institutions and organisations operating in the field of development of science and technology, irrespective of their form of ownership.

2. State agencies shall establish sector funds for the development of science and technology. Internal regulations of these funds shall be approved by an appropriate state organisation.

3. (Deleted – 22.6.2016, No 5504).

4. (Deleted).

5. Executive authorities, natural and legal persons are entitled to establish non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entities under private law for supporting the development of science and the activities of scientists.

Law of Georgia No 672 of 30 April 1997 – the Official Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia No 21-22, 31.5.1997, p. 14

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 3988 of 14 December 2006 – LHG I, No 48, 22.12.2006, Art. 355

Law of Georgia No 5504 of 22 June 2016 – website, 12.7.2016

Law of Georgia No 7000 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.7.2020

 

Section III – International Scientific and Technological Cooperation

 

Article 22 – Obligations of the State in international and interstate scientific and technological cooperation

1. The state shall provide favourable legal and economic conditions to facilitate the import of capital intended for attracting and using intellectual and industrial property, and shall support establishment of equitable relations between foreign and Georgian organisations in the field of science and technology

2. The state, depending on individual cases and national interests, shall subsidise the import of the latest scientific achievements and technologies, provide preferential credits for the export of high-tech products and for the partial subsidisation of their export by means of targeted donations.

 

Article 23 – International and interstate scientific and technological cooperation

International and interstate scientific and technological cooperation shall be ensured by way of:

a) cooperation with scientific organisations, including the implementation of joint scientific and technological programmes (projects), or the use of scientific technologies and their development plans, or establishment of centres for sharing scientific information and equipment between joint scientific groups or establishment of other organisations in a mutually acceptable manner;

b) exchange of scientific technical information and the use of international or foreign resources and databases;

c) organisation of international and interstate scientific congresses, conferences, symposia and colloquia;

d) joint training and qualification upgrading of specialists by means of the exchange of scientists, scientific and technical personnel, and students, that shall be envisaged in the budgetary allocations of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

Law of Georgia No 3029 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.7.2018

Law of Georgia No 351 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.3.2021

Law of Georgia No 3837 of 30 November 2023 – website, 15.12.2023

 

Article 24 – International cooperation of the institutions

1. The institutions are entitled to establish direct international scientific and technological cooperation.

2. Procedures for the cooperation of scientific institutions with foreign partners shall be determined by the agreement concluded between them, unless otherwise specified by the legislation of Georgia or the international agreements (treaties) of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2469 of 23 December 2005 – LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 410

 

Article 24 ^{​ 1} – Legal succession of the LEPL Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation

The LEPL Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia shall be a legal successor of the LEPL Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation.

Law of Georgia No 3445 of 16 July 2010 – LHG I, No 42, 22.7.2010, Art. 267

Law of Georgia No 1113 of 28 June 2017 – website, 10.7.2017

 

Article 25 – Final Provisions

The Government of Georgia may transform a LEPL scientific research institution into a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity under private law, and consequentially the said legal entity shall be considered as a legal successor of a respective legal entity under public law.

Law of Georgia No 3988 of 14 December 2006 – LHG I, No 48, 22.12.2006, Art. 355

 

 

The Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia

Head of the State                                                Eduard Shevardnadze

 

Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia                Vakhtang Goguadze

Tbilisi,

22 November 1994

No 603