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REDW activity also to projects that would seem to be unprofitable without
the special taxation
of REDW costs[1].
The research show that tax measures in the form that was applied in the US, Canada or
Australia had a rather strong stimulating effect, and enterprises reacted to a reduction in the price
of REDW by increasing their costs. For example, in the United States it turned out that as much
as the state received less in the form of taxes that could finance such activities, about the same
amount of firms invested additional funds for conducting REDW. Representation of the scale of
benefits received by American corporations in 1987, give the following figures: the amount of
benefits roughly corresponded to the amount of income tax and amounted to 105 billion dollars.
In Japan, in 1986, the amount of benefits to corporations was 406 billion yen, which
corresponded to one-third of the total tax on profits received to the state budget. Similar
examples can be given for other countries. In general, up to 40-60% of non-taxable profits of
corporations are sent to REDW sphere for renewal of production, fixed assets. Another
possibility for state support is that the state finances REDW through public or private firms.
Most of the fundamental scientific research in industrialized countries is conducted in this way.
This "division of labor" between the state and industry is due to the fact that incentives for
conducting basic research in private firms are weak due to large additional costs.
Let us briefly consider the features of stimulating the innovation process in individual
countries.
The innovation system in Germany is largely similar to that in other countries. The
state allocates significant funds for the organization of the innovation process. Thus, 12 million
DM was allocated only for organizing the process of selecting regions to stimulate business
activity.
A form specific to Germany is the so-called KEIM process, within which a body is
created that manages a group of universities and institutes for the transfer of technology. There is
a special program for teaching professors and students to technology transfer, i.e. in the final
analysis of preparation of a scientist for business activity. Innovative legislation allows
university professors to create technology transfer companies.
The most important incentive for technology transfer is the possibility of universities in
participating in the creation, together with private capital of innovation companies at the expense
of the state budget.
In Germany, as well as in other countries, it is widely practiced to create technoparks,
technology incubators and their analogues. One of such analogues is the plant of technologies,
founded in 1984. 160 companies are comprised in the area of 20,000 square meters, more than
3000 highly qualified specialists work there.
Attention is drawn to the experience of Australia, in which, from July 1, 1985. 150% of
REDW costs can be directly deducted from taxable income. In fact, the validity of such a rule is
rightly consider as an immediate depreciation. All this is being implemented for the same
purposes of ensuring technical competitiveness.
In principle, only companies incorporated in Australia have the right to receive
assistance. Taxation exempts current costs on REDW (wages, other costs directly related to
REDW, and costs for external REDW), as well as investments in equipment for REDW. These
investments can be amortized linearly for at least three years.
Special limitations are applied in relationships to pilot plants that must serve as models
for other installations and can not be used for commercial purposes, and the cost of one
installation should not exceed $ 10 million. Likewise, the law covers the costs of acquiring the
existing technologies, which are necessary for the firm to conduct research and development.
The exemption for a tax exemption of 150% is provided if the cost of REDW in the
firm exceeds $ 50,000. For firms whose REDW costs range from $ 20,000 to $ 50,000, a linearly
interpolated rate of between 100 and 150% is applied. Firms spending less than $ 20,000 on
REDW can benefit from incentives if they implement external REDW projects.
In the tax legislation of the USA since 1954 there is a hidden incentive for REDW in
the private sector, in the form of the right to choose between allocating REDW costs as costs and
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recording them in the asset. In section 174 of the Code of Internal Revenue, it is established that
REDW costs are either directly deductible from taxable income or are recorded in the asset and
must be amortized for at least 60 months. Almost all US firms prefer the first option.
The current costs of REDW in Japan are fully deducted from the taxable annual
income. To say the truth, firms are able to write down costs in an asset and amortize them for 5
years.
Japanese firms are granted a tax credit of 20% of the incremental costs of REDW. A
tax credit can be as much as 10% of the tax debt. The gain is defined as the difference between
REDW costs in the year for which the tax is paid and the maximum amount spent by a Japanese
firm on REDW for the year beginning in 1996. From the point of view of a tax credit, both the
current costs of REDW and the depreciation of investments in REDW are important.
Depreciation allowances for buildings of REDW institutions can not be taken into
account. Further, it is important that the tax credit itself for REDW is not taxed; i.e. tax credits
do not reduce the amount of REDW costs that can be deducted from the firm's income before
determining the amount of tax.
In addition, there is a tax credit of 7% of investments in
REDW in the field of basic
technologies (for example, the development of new materials, biotechnology, etc.). The
directives of the Japanese Ministry of Finance govern the details of this tax measure. Both tax
credits together can not exceed 15% of the company's tax debt.
Current expenditure on REDW in France can be fully deducted from taxable income.
To say the truth, it is possible to capitalize the costs of REDW and amortize them for no more
than 5 years. The fixed assets used for REDW are most often subject to accelerated depreciation
for three years linearly or digressively with a depreciation rate of 50%. Buildings are usually
depreciated linearly over 20 years[2].
Tax credits are not considered income tax in France. The definition of incentive costs
for REDW includes salaries for scientists, engineers and technicians, as well as depreciation of
equipment. It excludes, for example, the salary of personnel who do not have technical
qualifications (for example, cleaners, office personnel).
A vivid example of the innovative form in France is the high-tech park "Sophia
Antipolis" near Nice. It is located on the territory of 2.3 thousand hectares, which houses 1,200
organizations of various profiles, in which 25 thousand people work. Over 1000 firms are
companies with foreign capital.
To manage the technopolis, an association has been formed, of which ten local
communes are members, the Cote d'Azur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Agricultural
Chamber and the General Council of the Primorski Alps Department. The Association's funds
are 51% budgetary. 49% belong to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Operational
management of the park is carried out by the joint-stock company, which budget is formed at the
expense of the Association and commission for the leasing of land.
The attractiveness of functioning for Technopark firms, except the benefits of leasing
land (up to one-third of the real cost), for free communication, according to virtually free
infrastructure, in the location-of Nice, Cannes and other subjects on the Cote d'Azur.
At the same time, the Department of PrimorskyAlpes allocates significant funds for the
construction of buildings (rent with a discount of up to 25%), the arrangement of laboratories,
etc. In 1999, in France a law on innovation was accepted. It assumes the involvement of
researchers to create enterprises on a competitive basis. Budgetary financing of 550 projects in
the fields of biotechnology, information, environmental protection is provided; for each project,
up to 200 million francs can be allocated. In order to promote projects, there is a program for the
development of incubators. 31 incubators are planned, 10 of them already exist.
In incubators, small firms are essentially gratuitously receive equipment for the use for
2-3 years, during which the project should be worked out. Significant funds are allocated by the
state for technology transfers. Loans are provided to pay specialists, up to 50% of which are
irrevocable.