Secretariat of the Supervisory Board / Administration of the HTP

Innovation is becoming a key factor in economic growth and competitiveness in the modern world. Many countries are creating unique structures to support and develop high-tech industries. One such example is Belarus’s High Technology Park (HTP), vital in shaping the country’s innovative economy. To ensure the effective operation of HTP, it is necessary to have a transparent management and coordination system. In this article, we will look at the role and functions of the Secretariat of the Supervisory Board, which is one of the critical elements of HTP management. We will analyze the main tasks and powers of the Secretariat, its interaction with HTP residents and candidates for residents, and its contribution to the development of the innovation ecosystem of Belarus.

Management of the Hi-Tech Park

In a broad sense, HTP administration is a management company that administers HTP activities. Until April 2023, the management body of the Hi-Tech Park was called the State Institution “Administration of the Hi-Tech Park”. After the reorganization, since April 2023, the management system of the Hi-Tech Park has changed: a management company has been established in the HTP structure, the purpose of which is the active strategic development of HTP.

This company represents the Hi-Tech Park in cooperation with foreign partners and also helps HTP residents expand exports, explore new markets, and attract foreign investment. A representative of the management company is included in the Hi-Tech Park’s supervisory board.

The HTP Supervisory Board is a Park management body that deals with HTP development issues and reviews information on HTP work provided by the Secretariat of the Supervisory Board of the Hi-Tech Park.

There is no such governing body as the Hi-Tech Park Administration. Since May 2024, the successor of the Administration has been the Secretariat of the HTP Supervisory Board.

What is the HTP Supervisory Board Secretariat

The Secretariat of the Supervisory Board of the Hi-Tech Park is a non-profit state institution that ensures the work of the HTP Supervisory Board, interacts with HTP residents and resident candidates when submitting documents for admission to residents, and executes the decisions of the HTP Supervisory Board. The Secretariat has the right to engage in business activities. With the permission of the Belarusian Government, the Secretariat can open companies and be a member of commercial organizations.

The Secretariat of the HTP Supervisory Board is accountable to the Belarusian Government, and the HTP Supervisory Board controls the work of the Secretariat.

The Main Objectives of the HTP Supervisory Board Secretariat

The Secretariat strives to create comfortable conditions for the growth and competitiveness of the Republic of Belarus’s economic sectors, which are based on the use of new and advanced technologies. Also among the goals is to improve organizational, economic, and social factors to expand the export of high—tech products (goods, works, services) and attract investment.

The Main Tasks of the HTP Supervisory Board Secretariat

The main tasks of the HTP Supervisory Board Secretariat are as follows:

Interaction with the management company.
Ensuring the functioning of the HTP Supervisory Board.
The development of export-oriented companies using new technologies.
Creating a favourable investment climate in the field of new technologies.
Specialists should be employed in high technologies, and their efficiency should be improved.
Assistance in staffing the country’s economy’s innovative development and education in information and communication technologies.
Creating conditions that will stimulate innovation and startup development.
Payment for the work of experts who are involved in evaluating events and pilot projects in the field of digital development, as well as other objects of expertise in this area.
Holding events aimed at strengthening the reputation of the Hi-Tech Park and its participants.

These actions aim to increase the competitiveness of domestic companies operating in high technology.

These tasks are aimed at supporting and developing companies that develop software, manufacture goods, and provide services using new and advanced technologies—HTP residents. The activities of the HTP Supervisory Board Secretariat contribute to creating a favourable environment for attracting investments in the IT sector and improving the competitiveness of the national economy.

How Does the HTP Supervisory Board Secretariat Interact with IT Companies

HTP residents and candidates for residents are interested in issues of interaction with the Secretariat of the HTP Supervisory Board. Since documents are sent through the Secretariat for consideration by the Supervisory Board for admission to the residents of the Hi-Tech Park, and HTP residents send documents for changing business projects.

Consideration of documents by the Secretariat

The Secretariat is the first step of the ladder that leads to the HTP since the Secretariat reviews the candidates for residents before submitting the documents to the HTP Supervisory Board for consideration. In this case, the total period for consideration of documents by the Secretariat is no longer than 2 months. And when there are flaws in the documents, the Secretariat does not transfer them to the Supervisory Board. Still, it returns them to the resident no later than ten days after receiving the documents.

Areas in which the Secretariat Interacts with HTP Residents

These are the main areas in which the Secretariat interacts with the residents of the Hi-Tech Park:

1. The Secretariat maintains a Register of HTP residents, issues certificates to business entities on their registration as HTP residents. It is essential to understand that the decision of the Supervisory Board on registering an HTP resident begins to take effect on the first day of the month following the month in which the decision was made. The certificate is issued to the resident within 10 working days after the decision on the resident’s registration is made.

2. In case of violations by HTP residents of state requirements, the Secretariat sends documents to the management company and the HTP Supervisory Board for decisions on deprivation of status and loss of benefits.

3. On behalf of the Supervisory Board, the Secretariat organizes scientific and technical expertise of business projects and activities of HTP resident candidates. This is necessary to determine whether the types of activities allowed for HTP residents correspond, whether business projects are innovative and whether they contribute to the development of the IT sector.

4. HTP residents must send copies of tax and statistical reports and other information related to the activities of HTP residents to the Secretariat of the HTP Supervisory Board.

5. The Secretariat cooperates with contractors who ensure the operation of HTP infrastructure and HTP residents.

6. The Secretariat represents the interests of HTP residents in their interaction with government agencies.

7. The Secretariat deals with the work of the HTP business incubator and invites HTP resident staff to act as mentors and experts.

8. HTP residents and companies that support residents’ activities conclude lease agreements for real estate and other property on the Hi-Tech Park’s territory.

9. The Secretariat interacts with HTP residents to analyze their activities and explain the prospects and opportunities for further development.

10. Regarding the conscription of employees of HTP resident companies, the Secretariat interacts with military enlistment offices, and employees may apply for service in special information technology units.

11. HTP residents are required to quarterly deduct to the Secretariat 1% of the revenue for the previous quarter from their activities as HTP residents, including the sale of tokens.

12. In case of a change in the composition of the owners of the HTP resident company, the owner of the HTP resident’s property, the resident must inform the Secretariat no later than 10 days.

13. The Secretariat may act as a customer for construction on the HTP’s territory, including housing for HTP residents.

What Contribution does the HTP Supervisory Board Secretariat Make to the Development of the Innovation Ecosystem in Belarus

As part of its activities, the Secretariat can contribute to the development of the innovation ecosystem in the following ways:

1. Development and Implementation of HTP Development Strategies and Programs
This may include identifying priority areas of development, attracting investments, and creating conditions for developing startups and other subjects of innovative activity.

2. Support for Innovative Projects
The Secretariat can provide consulting, financial and organizational support to projects implemented within the framework of HTP.

3. Infrastructure Development
The Secretariat can participate in creating and developing the infrastructure necessary for the operation of HTP, including technology parks, business incubators, technology transfer centres, and other facilities.

4. Interaction with Government Agencies and International Organizations
The Secretariat can represent the interests of HTP in cooperation with government agencies and participate in international projects and programs aimed at developing innovative activities.