Law of Georgia on Science, Technology and Their Development

LAW OF GEORGIA

ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT

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

The Law of Georgia on Science, Technology and their Development forms a legal basis for state policy that 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 social development, improvement of the public welfare and for the self-enrichment of people, and that it facilitates the manifestation of intellectual capabilities and 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 plan, application of outcomes, improvement of current technologies and equipment in order to raise the production level and 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. The Law determines the basic goals and principles of state policy in the field of science and technology, authorities of state legislative and executive bodies in the implementation of the policy, defines creative freedom and responsibilities of scientists and legal rules and guarantees for the activities in this field. 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

Section I – General 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 legislation that ensures the following:

1. 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 innovative activities (creation and application of technological and technical innovations);

2. prioritisation of certain areas of science and facilitation of their development basedon forecasts of the social and economic development of Georgia;

3. democratic management and de-monopolisation of the field of science and technology, facilitation of the self-regulation of innovative activities, freedom of scientific activities, participation of the scientific community in the development of state policy in the field of science and technology;

4. support for gradual integration of intellectual and material potential of scientific and scientific- research institutions;

5. support for entrepreneurship and competition in the field of science and technology;

6. development of international collaboration in the field of science.

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

1. State authorities are 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 №672 of 30 April 1997 - the Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia №21-22, 31.5.1997, p. 14

Article 5 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia №672 of 30 April 1997 - the Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia №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 5¹ – 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;

a¹) 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 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 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 private 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. Within their authority, and as required for the development of the region, local state authorities shall be entitled to facilitate development of science and technology, participate in preparing and implementing regional and interregional scientific and technological programmes (projects) and finance them from a local budget or from regional or other local funds allocated for the development of science and technology as provided for by the legislation of Georgia. If necessary, local state authorities may establish regional bodies to manage the development of science and technology as provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

3. State authorities of Georgia shall be responsible for implementing a state policy in 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

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.

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.

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 expert appraisal 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 №672 of 30 April 1997 - the Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia №21-22, 31.5.1997, p. 14

Article 8 – Guarantees for scientists

1. Scientists have the right to:

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

c) participate in competitions for obtaining grants in addition to receiving their official salaries, and enjoy the right of receiving an individual grant (grants) even in the case of changing a job;

d) 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 from having a part-time work.

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

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;

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

Article 10 – Scientific research institutions

1. A scientific research institution may be a legal entity under public or private law, or may exist as a structural unit of a higher educational institution or the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

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

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

Article 10¹ – 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. The failure of the institution to submit an application for obtaining a scientific research grant for three consecutive years, or the failure to obtain a grant for five years may serve as a basis for the reorganisation or liquidation of the institution.

3. The operating procedures of an institution are determined by the statute approved by a state control authority. If the state control of the institution is not implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, the statute of the institution shall be approved in coordination with the Ministry.

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

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

Article 10² – Scientific council of the institution

1. A general meeting of scientists of the institution shall elect a scientific council from among the scientists of the institution for a five-year term.

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

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

4. The chairperson of the scientific council shall hold the Doctor’s academic degree or an equivalent degree.

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

Article 10³ – Director of the institution

1. The institution is represented by its director.

2. Any person who holds the Doctor’s academic degree or an equivalent degree and who meets the conditions established under the statute of the institution may be elected as the director of the institution. The director of the institution shall be elected for a five-year term. The same person may be elected as the director only for two consecutive terms.

3. The director of the institution shall be elected by the scientific council of the institution on an open competition basis by a majority of the full composition. The director of the institution shall be appointed to and dismissed from the position upon the recommendation of the scientific council of the institution by the head of the administrative authority implementing state control.

4. The procedure for conducting the competition for selecting the director of the institution, the rights and obligations of the director and the procedure for terminating his/her powers shall be determined under the Statute of the institution.

5. The procedure established by paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this article shall not apply to an institution within 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

Article 10⁴ – 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 structural unit of the institution is elected by the scientific council on an open competition basis and is approved by the director as provided for by the statute.

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

Article 10⁵ – State control of an institution

State control of an institution is implemented 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 10⁶ – 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 scientific worker

b) a senior scientific worker

c) a chief scientific worker.

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 scientific, administrative and assisting personnel for a term determined by the labour legislation of Georgia.

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

9. The heads of 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

Article 10⁷ – 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 scientific worker may be a person holding a Master's academic degree.

3. A senior scientific worker may be a person who is a doctoral student or holds the Doctor’s academic degree.

4. A chief scientific worker may be a person holding the Doctor’s academic degree.

5. The date of the competition and other requirements shall be published not later than one month before the end of submitting documents under the legislation of Georgia and under the statute of the legal entity under public law scientific research institution, but not later than two months before conducting the competition.

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

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 has attained the age of 65 may not be elected or appointed to an administrative position of the institution. Except for the cases determined by paragraph 3 of this article, the powers of administrative personnel shall be terminated when they attain the age of 65.

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) failure to submit a scientific paper for a state scientific grant for 3 consecutive years, or failure to obtain a grant for five years;

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

Article 12 – Salaries of scientists

1. The salary of a scientist shall be determined by a labour agreement. The salary of a full time scientist at an institution shall be higher than the minimum salary of a public official serving in the executive government.

2. A scientist may be engaged in the activities of temporary research groups or may have another part-time job for an additional salary on the basis of an agreement.

3. In case of obtaining a state scientific grant the research staff members employed at an institution shall fully retain their salaries as scientists.

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

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

Article 13 – Defining 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 №672 of 30 April 1997 - the Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia №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 also be 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 №672 of 30 April 1997 - the Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia №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 15¹ – Legal entities under public law science funds

1. For financing scientific research from State Budgetary allocations under the grant system, and on the basis of competition, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall establish the legal entity under public law (LEPL) Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation and other legal entities under public law science funds ('science fund') in coordination with the Prime Minister of Georgia.

2. The operating procedures and structure of science funds shall be determined by a statute approved by an order of the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia. The head of a science fund shall be appointed to and dismissed from the position by the Minister of Education and Science 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 shall be approved by the Ministry of Education and Science 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, 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

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 higher state educational institutions and other state scientific organisations, 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 organisations engaged in the selection and training of future generations; in addition the State shall support leading higher educational institutions, academies of science and other scientific centres and develop a network of research and manufacturing complexes and other forms for the training of highly qualified specialists.

4. (Invalidated - 21.6.2, №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 №672 of 30 April 1997 - the Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia №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

Article 18 – Protection of intellectual and industrial property

1. Intellectual and industrial property and outcomes of other scientific and technological activities, including know-how, is the property of the State, 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 expert appraisal

1. State expert appraisal shall be provided for the scientific support of state scientific and technological programmes (projects) and for appraising the level of applied scientific research and developments, the technological part of production facilities under construction, for the appraisal of 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 state expert appraisals.

3. Institutions, organisations and individual experts may participate in state expert appraisals on the basis of an agreement, in which the works related to the expert appraisal 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. Ministries, state departments and inspection services, and other state agencies shall establish sector funds for the development of science and technology, and local self-government bodies shall establish regional funds, if necessary. Internal regulations of these funds shall be approved by an appropriate state organisation.

3. Implementation of state innovation policies shall be facilitated by the legal persons established under the legislation of Georgia.

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 №672 of 30 April 1997 - the Gazette of the Parliament of Georgia №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

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 exchanging scientists, scientific technical personnel and students that shall be envisaged in the budgetary allocations of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia.

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

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 under 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 24¹ – Legal succession of the National Science Foundation of Georgia and the Foundation of Georgian Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences (Rustaveli Foundation)

The LEPL Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation shall be a legal successor of the LEPL National Science Foundation of Georgia and the LEPL Foundation of Georgian Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences (Rustaveli Foundation).

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

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 construed 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

№603