A pair of state tax credits would be available for West Virginia inventors who gain patents in a bill moving through the legislature.

The measure has already passed the state Senate and was approved by the House Finance Committee Monday.

West Virginia Vision Shared President Juliet Terry says in order to get the tax credits, those with patents would have to work with WVU and Marshall researchers in the Bucks for Brains program.

"They have the infrastructure in place. They have the experience in place for this kind of work," Terry told the finance committee. "The probably have a much likelier chance for that entrepreneur not only to get that patent granted, but commercialized."

Terry says many states have tried to encourage the development of patents with tax credits to kick start the economy. She says West Virginia is near the bottom in patents granted.

State Deputy Revenue Secretary Mark Muchow says there's really no way to predict how much the credits would cost the state in revenue.

"If I have a patent that's for something that no one really cares for and there's not much royalty income there's not a whole lot of credit," he said. "If I'm the next Bill Gates there's going to be some credit."

The tax credit program would go for five years, 2011-2016.

The bill now goes to the House floor for consideration.