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Methodology - International trade in high-tech services

 

International trade in high-tech services monitors sale and purchase of intangible technologies of a given country in relation to other economies. Data on receipts (or payments) received within international trade in technology express technological level of an economy, i.e. they inform about the scope of international trade with industrial property and knowledge related to advanced technologies.

Basic methodology and concept of technology balance of payments statistics, which comprises international trade in technology, is based on the Technology Balance of Payments Manual, OECD, 1990.

Data on exports and imports of technology come from a direct survey of the CZSO on exports and imports of services. Individual TBP items are defined based on the Extended Balance of Payments Services Classification (EBOPS 2010) as follows:

Computer services and software (codes: SI2 and SH3) – Computer services consist mainly of consulting services in the fields of hardware and software of computers, including maintenance and repair services of both hardware and software and services related to data processing. Computer software involves purchase and sale of tailor-made software and its applications (original computer software), including purchase and sale of ownership rights to such software or licence fees for the software use. Furthermore, it also includes purchase and sale of standard software and applications supplied over the Internet, including purchase and sale of ownership rights to such software or licence fees for the software use. Computer services does not include purchase and sale of standard software packages supplied on physical media carriers (CD-ROMs, flash disks, etc.) or as a part of hardware (as Microsoft products, for instance), which are considered to be goods and are reported within the statistics on international trade in goods (change of ownership). The computer software category here also includes licences to reproduce and/or distribute computer software (code SH3).

Architectural, engineering, scientific and other technical services (code SJ31), which include:

  • architectural services;
  • engineering services, which include the design, development and utilization of machines, materials, instruments, structures, processes and systems. Services of this type involve the provision of designs, plans and studies related to engineering projects;
  • scientific and other technical services include surveying; cartography; product testing and certification; and technical inspection services.

Research and development (code SJ1), which includes provision of customised and non-customised research and development services, exchange and transfer of R&D funds are funds with or without a compensatory return flow of R&D and sale of proprietary rights arising from research and development (patents, copyrights arising from research and development, industrial processes and designs, other sales of proprietary rights arising from research and development).

Royalties and licence fees (codes SH2 and SH42; hereinafter referred to as “licence fees”), which include received or paid licence fees for provided ownership right to temporarily use products arisen based on performed R&D activity (inventions, new technological solutions, new cultivars of plants and breeds of animals, new pieces of knowledge and know-how), i.e. income from authorised temporary use of subjects of industrial rights (e.g. patents, industrial and utility models), know-how, and other intangible results of R&D activity including trademarks and design.