The article touches upon the issues of regulating characteristics of scientific and research labour . The core observations of the study were dedicated to the principles and modern regulation of the process of norming of scientific and research labour (NSRL). The interconnection of economic and legal aspects of the research was indicated and the necessity of cross-discipline studies was proclaimed. The importance of reformation in the sphere of NSRL for the purpose of budget expenditures harmonization was pointed out. The definition of state regulation of norming scientific and research labour (SR NSRL) was suggested. The main principles of SR NSRL system formation considering the R&D performers' interaction were clarified. The complexity of the scientific and research labour environment and the difference between working time and scientific labour was detailed. The importance of the SR NSRL system for the purpose of Ukrainian intellectual capital accumulation was described. The research results also contain the justification of the role of mandatory and variative components balancing within the regulation system. A critical analysis of regulatory and legal support and the failure of the government policies in the field of SR NSRL was carried out. It is noted that the issues of NSRL are more ignored compared to the legislation on remuneration of scientific work. It is proposed to focus on the scientific substantiation of measures to optimize human resources in the field of R&D based on the results of the implementation of NSRL measures. Emphasis is placed on the need to analyze the international experience in regulating the NSRL, in particular in the countries of the European scientific and educational space. It is also recommended to continue the research on the impact of NSRL on the balance of working and leisure time. The actuality of development and scientific justification of human resources optimization (as a result of NSRL ) was discovered. The perspectives of following observations in the field of analysis the regulation of R&D private and public performers were introduced.