Belarusian IT companies and startups are increasingly exploring different options for development: some choose the Hi-Tech Park (HTP) in Belarus, while others opt for Polish business incubators. Both tools aim to support businesses, but they operate under different rules and pursue different goals.
The HTP is a special legal regime for IT companies in Belarus, offering tax and legal benefits and simplifying work with foreign clients and investors. Polish business incubators, on the other hand, provide foreign entrepreneurs with access to the EU market, assistance with company registration, residency legalization, and reaching European clients.
For a startup or tech company, the choice between the HTP and a Polish incubator can be strategic: it affects not only tax burdens and business conditions but also prospects for international expansion. This article examines the key differences and features of both models to help entrepreneurs understand which environment is best suited for their project.
What Is the HTP in Belarus
The Hi-Tech Park (HTP) is a special legal regime for IT companies, established to develop Belarus’s digital economy. Its goal is to create favorable conditions for high-tech and IT companies, attract investments, and enhance the competitiveness of the domestic IT sector internationally.
Key Goals and Objectives of the HTP
The HTP’s primary mission is to stimulate IT industry growth, create new jobs, and develop an innovation infrastructure. It partly functions as an “ecosystem,” providing companies access to legal, organizational, and economic tools for scaling their business.
Benefits for IT Companies
HTP residents enjoy numerous tax and administrative advantages, including:
- Exemption from corporate income tax and certain other mandatory payments.
- The ability to use simplified currency and labor regulations.
- Access to international markets through favorable conditions for exporting IT services.
- Simplified interactions with government authorities and business partners.
These benefits have made the HTP a key driver of IT development in Belarus and one of the main platforms for attracting international clients.
Restrictions and Requirements for Residents
Only companies engaged in new and information technology activities can become HTP residents. Specific requirements apply: the business must fall within approved activity types, provide a justified business project, and comply with legal standards. Admission to the HTP involves a selection process and approval by its supervisory board.
Thus, the HTP is a support and development tool for IT companies in Belarus, but it is exclusively aimed at participants in the technology sector.
Polish Business Incubators
Business incubators in Poland are organizations created to support early-stage entrepreneurs, startups, and foreign founders who want to operate in the country and enter the EU market. Their main mission is to help projects navigate the initial, most challenging stages: from legal registration to finding clients and investors. Unlike the HTP, which focuses on already operating IT companies, incubators primarily work with early-stage businesses.
Services: Company Registration, Residency Legalization, Access to the EU Market
Incubators provide comprehensive support that goes beyond mere consulting. Key services include:
- Assistance with registering a company in Poland.
- Support in obtaining visas and residence permits (incubators often act as official partners for residency legalization).
- Accounting and legal support.
- Mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs and specialists.
- Access to business networks and the European market.
With such infrastructure, entrepreneurs can focus on developing their product or service without spending excessive resources on bureaucracy and adaptation.
Who They Are Suitable For and What Projects They Support
Polish business incubators are open to a wide range of entrepreneurs: from individual founders to teams planning to scale within the EU. They support projects in technology, creative industries, services, as well as social entrepreneurship. Special attention is given to initiatives with international growth potential and the ability to create jobs.
Thus, incubators in Poland act as a “springboard” for businesses, helping both foreign and local entrepreneurs establish themselves in the market and reach a European level.
Key Differences Between the HTP and Business Incubators
The HTP and Polish business incubators differ in their support focus: the former provides tax benefits and a special regime for IT companies, while the latter helps integrate into the European business environment and build a foundation for entering international markets.
Support Approach: Tax Benefits vs. Infrastructure and Legal Assistance
The HTP in Belarus primarily focuses on providing tax incentives and a special legal regime for high-tech and IT companies. The main benefits for residents include reduced tax burdens, simplified business conditions, and legal protection under the special regime.
In Poland, business incubators emphasize infrastructure and organizational support. This is not about tax breaks but about assistance with company registration, obtaining residency permits, consulting, and creating conditions for access to investment and business networks.
Opportunities for International Market Access
While HTP residents enjoy domestic benefits in Belarus, their access to foreign markets is limited: international expansion depends on the companies themselves and their resources.
Participation in a Polish business incubator, however, effectively opens doors to the EU market. Entrepreneurs gain the opportunity to operate within the EU legal framework, enter contracts with European partners, and scale their business more easily.
Requirements and Conditions for Participation
HTP residents must meet strict requirements: the company must fall within approved activity types (primarily IT and innovation), pass a selection process, and comply with Park rules. This format is intended for companies that already operate or plan to operate in the tech sector.
Polish incubators are more flexible: they support not only IT projects but also a wide range of initiatives, including creative industries, services, and social entrepreneurship. Starting conditions are simpler: an idea and willingness to grow a business are enough, while the incubator assists with all basic procedures.
Which Option to Choose for a Startup or IT Company
Startups or IT companies can analyze their activities, strategy, and goals to choose the most suitable location based on several factors.
When Staying in the HTP Makes Sense
Residency in the Hi-Tech Park may be optimal for companies that:
- Already operate in the Belarusian market and plan to grow in IT.
- Are interested in reducing tax burdens and benefiting from the special legal regime.
- Do not prioritize entering the EU market in the near future and focus on domestic growth and serving global clients remotely.
For such companies, the HTP provides a stable legal environment, predictable taxation, and the opportunity to focus on technological development.
When a Polish Incubator Is Appropriate
Business incubators in Poland suit entrepreneurs and startups for whom access to international markets and EU infrastructure is critical. This can be relevant if:
- The project is initially aimed at a European or global audience.
- Residency and work legalization in Poland are required.
- The company seeks investments, partners, and clients specifically in the EU.
- Early-stage support such as consulting, documentation assistance, and office solutions is important.
An incubator can serve as an “entry point” into the European ecosystem and facilitate international expansion.
Combining Options: Working in the HTP While Developing Through a Polish Incubator
Some companies consider a hybrid approach: maintaining HTP residency in Belarus to optimize taxes and operations while simultaneously launching a separate legal entity or project through a Polish business incubator. This strategy allows companies to:
- Benefit from HTP incentives for core activities.
- Build a presence in the EU market and prepare a platform for scaling.
- Spread risks and take advantage of different legal regimes.
Of course, such a strategy requires careful legal and tax planning, but when properly managed, it can offer a startup or IT company maximum benefits.
Practical Recommendations
What to Consider When Choosing
Before deciding between the HTP and a Polish business incubator, it is important to define your company’s key objectives. If the priority is tax benefits and stable operations in Belarus, it makes sense to consider the HTP. If the focus is on international expansion, entering the EU market, and attracting investors, a business incubator may be more suitable. It is also important to consider the stage of development: mature companies often find it more convenient to operate in the HTP, while early-stage startups benefit more from an incubator.
Type of Activity Planned
If the company plans to engage in activities not included in the list of permitted activities for HTP residents, choosing a Polish business incubator may be the better option.
Tax Burden and Legal Regulation
The choice of location is inevitably linked to tax and legal considerations. The HTP provides special tax conditions, reducing the financial burden on businesses.
In Poland, incubators do not provide direct tax incentives, but they simplify business legalization and offer infrastructure and legal support. Therefore, when planning, it is advisable to analyze in advance how the company’s income and expenses will be structured in each jurisdiction and compare costs against potential benefits.
Long-Term Business Development Prospects
Beyond current advantages, it is important to think about the future. If the company targets the domestic market and steady growth, HTP residency may be optimal. However, if the strategy involves expansion beyond Belarus, especially into the EU, a Polish incubator should be considered as part of an international strategy. In some cases, a hybrid approach makes sense: developing the business within the HTP while simultaneously establishing a presence in Europe. This approach helps minimize risks and broaden growth opportunities.
Conclusion
The choice between the HTP in Belarus and a Polish business incubator depends directly on your company’s goals and strategy. The HTP offers tax incentives and favorable conditions for IT business within the country, while Polish incubators open doors to the EU market, assist with registration and legalization, and provide infrastructure for international growth. It is important to consider not only current advantages but also long-term development prospects to make the decision most effective.
Our legal experts are ready to evaluate all options, consider the specifics of your business, and help select the optimal location whether the HTP, a business incubator, or a combination of both. This approach allows you to minimize risks and build a sustainable growth strategy in Belarus and beyond.
How to contact us
For more information or consultations on issues related to starting a business and selecting the optimal location in Belarus, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help and support you.
Phone and email communication options are available for your convenience:
- +375293664477 (WhatsApp/Telegram/Viber);
- info@spex.by.
