A comparative analysis of policies in the field of intellectual property (IP) of universities in leading European countries: Switzerland, the UK and the Netherlands. As a result of the comparison, the main components of these policies are identified as a single document: the purpose of the policy, the procedure for determining copyright holders, students' rights to IP, material incentives for using IP, and responsible structures. The policy of each university takes into account the features and traditions of its activities. It was revealed that each university has its own approach to material incentives for the creation and use of IP. The conditions are established under which the university does not claim to IP created by students. It is concluded that it is advisable to develop similar IP policies for Belarusian universities.

The scientific article explores the role of software as a tool used by organizations to carry out economic activities in a digital economy without which it is impossible to have adequate competitiveness in a digital economy. The concept of “digital economy” has been clarified. A methodology has been developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the software used or selected on the basis of its qualitative and quantitative characteristics and the requirements of the workplace for the software functionality. Based on the theoretical and methodological base and the developed methodology, a scalable model of an effective management decision-making process for selecting and updating software in an organization is built, a comparison with existing practice is carried out. The significance of the research results is due to the lack of widely available methods in open access for the optimal selection of software as a tool, not related to involving external agents in the process and having the necessary scalability to use them, including collective, in organizations. This creates negative effects for organizations and the economy of the Republic of Belarus as a whole.

The article discusses the issues of formation and development of the National Innovation System of the Republic of Belarus, highlights some problematic issues related to understanding the essence of NIS in society, the development of some of its elements. A number of practical steps are proposed aimed at increasing the efficiency of the functioning of the National Innovation System of the Republic of Belarus.

The article reveals the shortcomings of existing systems of information support for the commercial real estate market. We have studied the procedures for selecting information about commercial real estate objects, identified their shortcomings, which allowed us to justify the need to transform the current system of information support for the commercial real estate market of the Republic of Belarus. In order to improve the current information support system, it is proposed to achieve these objectives by combining existing databases of technical passports, an automated information system for assessing land in the Republic of Belarus, as well as an automated information system for maintaining the unified state register of real estate, rights to it and transactions with it, in the form of unified technical and economic passports of commercial real estate objects. The introduction of such a document will allow to raise management efficiency as the commercial real estate market segments, and specific commercial properties, to formalize the relationship between the subjects of the commercial property market, and will also act as the basis for increasing economic efficiency and investment attractiveness of commercial real estate market of the Republic of Belarus.

The population census is the key and large-scale statistical action. It allows to obtaining exact and reliable information about a condition of the population on demographic and social indicators. Improvement existing and introduction of new approaches to its preparation and carrying out to increase quality and availability of results of a census, to reduce financial and temporary expenses is necessary. One of such innovations is used GIS-technologies. Now during forthcoming population censuses of a round of 2020 it is integration of GIS in a population census and creation of cartographic web services, using of base of geodate, the systems of positioning (GPS) considerably increases. Its quality and expands a set of information services (e-services) provided by bodies of the state statistics, in particular distribution of results of a census in a cartographic look practically on any statistics and with any geobinding. In article the analysis of existing system of population census in Belarus in aspect of use is carried out GIS-technologies, variants on system optimisation are offered. Authors realised the technology «Generalized data», used for gathering, formation and cartographical display of the information on the population, constantly living in the organisations (establishments), gardening associations, country co-operative societies, objects of office appointment, and also for drawing up of organizational plans of carrying out of population census of Byelorussia of 2019 and control over its preparation and carrying out.

Article is devoted to a search for an optimal format of blended distance learning. The questioning of distance learning students of Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel was used as a main research method. One discipline from the academic learning program was studied using e-learning technology (on-line classes) whereas (while) others disciplines were studied using traditional classroom face-to-face learning technique. Thus, students using blended distance learning have opportunity to compare and estimate efficiency together with advantages of both educative techniques. On-line classes were held in the period between sessions using BigBlueButton program.

It was found that student majority estimate blended distance learning as most efficiency learning technique; half of questioning students consider that the quality of face-to-face and on-line learning is equal. The main advantages and disadvantages of e-learning were analyzed. Highest student attendance of on-line classes between sessions in comparison with face-to-face classes during session time was found. Optimal amount of disciplines for on-line learning to organize blended distance learning were established. Best regime, time and intensity for on-line classes were determined. Results of these investigations may be useful to organize optimal format of blended distance learning as well as to choose subjects for on-line learning and to create comfortable schedule of distance classes.