Law No. 444-IV “On scientific organizations.”

This Law defines the legal status, goals, objectives and powers of scientific organizations, their types and categories, state regulation of the activities of scientific organizations. A scientific organization is a legal entity, regardless of the form of ownership and organizational legal form, which carries out as the main research and (or) scientific technical activity, and (or) experimental development, training and advanced training of scientific personnel, and operates in accordance with the legislation of Turkmenistan and constituent documents. The activities of scientific organizations are carried out in accordance with the state scientific technical policy and legislation of Turkmenistan and is determined by their charters. The objectives of the scientific organization are: (a) conducting fundamental and applied scientific research aimed at obtaining new knowledge about the laws of development of nature, society, man and the state, contributing to technological, economic and social development of Turkmenistan; (b) expert scientific support for the activities of public authorities; (c) comprehensive assistance to the development of science and technology in Turkmenistan; (d) dissemination and enhancement of the authority of scientific knowledge; (e) strengthening links between science and education; (f) strengthening ties between science and industry; (g) formation and development of human resources in the field of science; and (h) assistance in improving the status and social protection of scientific workers. Scientific organizations carry out activities in the following organizational and legal forms: (a) state scientific organization; (b) a public association of scientific workers; (c) the scientific organization of the public association; (d) a business company of a state scientific organization; (e) joint stock scientific company; and (f) a joint scientific organization. This Law consists of VII Chapters divided into 43 Articles. Chapter I lays down general provisions. Chapter II classifies by types scientific organizations. Chapter III classifies scientific organizations by categories. Chapter IV regards Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan. Chapter V regards state regulation of the activities of scientific organizations. Chapter VI regards international cooperation of scientific organizations. Chapter VII lays down conclusive provisions.