pose items required for R&D. Only recently have spe- 

 cial science supply organizations been set up, but 

 these still operate only on a small-scale, limited 

 basis. As already indicated, many deficiencies exist 

 in the supply system which add uncertainty and risk 

 to all innovation efforts. Finally, access to sup- 

 plies of capital equipment for experimental purposes 

 is handled either by Gossnab, for small-scale acqui- 

 sitions, or by Gosstroy when new construction or ma- 

 jor reconstruction of facilities is needed. Tradi- 

 tionally, Soviet authorities have chosen to minimize 

 investment in an experimental base and scientific in- 

 struments industry in favor of investment in on-line 

 production facilities. While an extensive campaign 

 is now underway to correct deficiencies in experimen- 

 tal and pilot plant establishments, the Soviet pat- 

 tern in certain sectors is still deficient by Western 

 standards. 



The Soviet patent system also affects R&D. Soviet 

 policy concerning inventions and discoveries and as- 

 sociated patents and author's certificates is admin- 

 istered by the State Committee for Inventions and 

 Discoveries in concert with legal authorities. Patent 

 departments now generally exist in ministries, re- 

 search institutes, and production organizations to 

 service the inventor. 



In contrast to the American system, proprietary 

 rights over inventions in the USSR are held by the 

 state. Rather than permit the inventor to retain a 

 monopoly use of the invention for a designated period 

 and thus retard diffusion, the Soviets have chosen to 

 compensate the inventor with a lump sum payment . Re- 

 muneration is paid if the invention is used not only 

 in the USSR but also abroad in the sale of licenses, 

 in documentation transmitted to other countries by 

 way of economic and S&T collaboration, or in instal- 

 lations built by the USSR abroad as part of its for- 

 eign technical assistance programs. The maximum 

 award for a single invention cannot exceed 20,000 ru- 

 bles, however. Discoveries are also rewarded with a 

 one-time payment in the amount of 5000 rubles. Cash 

 awards are also given for rationalization proposals 



191 



