Lack of proper accounting of intellectual property assets hinders development of defense sector – opinion
The lack of proper accounting of intellectual property assets hinders the development of the defense sector and the technological sovereignty of the state, believes head of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association Oleksiy Shevchuk.
"Currently, one of the key problems holding back the development of the defense sector and the country’s technological sovereignty is the almost complete lack of proper accounting for intellectual property assets owned by state enterprises. A significant portion of these assets lack digital copies, comprehensive inventories, and legally formalized status. This creates serious risks for the state and complicates any international cooperation," he told Interfax-Ukraine.
According to Shevchuk, the post-Soviet legacy, the absence of systematic rights formalization, lost technical documents, and tax obligations arising when intellectual assets are put on the balance sheet have caused the state to make little progress in this area for decades.
"Today, in wartime conditions, this is no longer a technical nuance — it is a matter of national security," he emphasized.
Shevchuk believes that the first step to solving the problem should be the complete digitalization of intellectual property assets in the defense sector, converting all technological developments — from drawings and technical descriptions to software — into digital form.
"Only this will make it possible to ensure transparent accounting, protection against loss, legal formalization, and further use of these assets in production, cooperation with partners, and attracting investment," he said.
Shevchuk noted that the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association is calling on government bodies, enterprises, and relevant agencies to begin a comprehensive audit and digitalization of intangible assets.
"Without this, it is impossible to carry out real modernization of defense enterprises and guarantee that technologies developed over decades will not be lost forever. We are ready to participate in the development of the necessary solutions and regulatory changes so that this process can finally be implemented systematically at the state level," he concluded.