Ministry of Defence initiates a monetary reward system for service members who develop innovative solutions

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is drafting a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers that defines the procedure and amounts of monetary rewards for service members whose innovative developments are implemented and put into use.

The proposed mechanism is designed as a tool for the fair recognition of service member-inventors’ achievements and as an incentive for continued research and innovative efforts in the defense sector.

“Amid war and technological rivalry with the enemy, we must not only rapidly devise innovative solutions for the frontline but also ensure their protection. That is why the Ministry of Defence is developing a system to protect intellectual property rights,” noted Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Valerii Churkin.

He emphasized that the initiative involves not only the legal formalization of rights but also the fostering of a culture that respects intellectual products within the defense sector.

To build a modern and efficient intellectual property rights management system, a dedicated Intellectual Property Department was established within the Ministry of Defence.

In addition, the Ministry of Defence has initiated two draft laws, both of which have already been approved in their first reading by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. These draft laws propose amendments to the Civil Code of Ukraine regarding the distribution of property rights in intellectual property for inventions created by service members, and regulate legal relations related to the creation and use of intellectual property in the defense sector.

The proposed changes are expected to establish the foundation for a comprehensive intellectual property management system within the Ministry of Defence, whereby the state will own promising developments funded by the state budget, and their creators will receive fair remuneration.