Many Canadian business owners assume SR&ED is only for big tech companies or scientists in lab coats—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. If your company is working to develop new or improved technologies, products, or processes, you might qualify for one of Canada’s most valuable tax credits.

This guide breaks down exactly who is eligible, what kinds of projects qualify, and common misconceptions—so you can determine if your business should be claiming SR&ED.

1. Who Can Apply for SR&ED? (Company Eligibility)

The Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit is available to Canadian businesses of all sizes and across all industries, but there are specific rules on who can apply.

✅ Eligible Business Types:

• Canadian-Controlled Private Corporations (CCPCs) → Receive up to 35% refundable tax credit on the first $3M of eligible expenditures.
• Non-CCPCs (Public, Foreign-Owned, or Large Corporations) → Receive a 15% non-refundable tax credit on eligible R&D expenses.
• Incorporated Businesses → Your company must be incorporated in Canada (self-employed individuals and sole proprietors do not qualify).
• Startups and Small Businesses → Even if you’re pre-revenue, you can still claim refundable credits, making SR&ED a critical funding tool.

🚫 Not Eligible:

• Sole Proprietors or Unincorporated Businesses
• Non-Canadian Companies
• Non-profit Organizations and Charities

💡 Example: A small AgTech startup in Ontario, incorporated as a CCPC, can claim both federal and provincial SR&ED credits, even if they haven’t yet turned a profit.

SR&ED isn’t just for scientists in labs. Businesses across industries—from AI to education—can qualify for R&D tax credits by solving technical challenges and improving existing processes.

2. Understanding SR&ED Eligibility: The “Why” and “How” Factors

To qualify, your work must meet two core criteria:

🔹 The “Why” Requirement – Are You Advancing Scientific or Technological Knowledge?

Your project must attempt to resolve an uncertainty that cannot be easily solved with existing knowledge.

✅ Eligible Example: Developing an AI-powered crop monitoring system that can detect plant diseases in real time, something not yet available in the market.

❌ Not Eligible Example: Simply using an existing AI tool for farm management.

🔹 The “How” Requirement – Are You Using a Systematic Approach?

You need a structured process of investigation, which includes:

• Identifying a technological problem
• Developing a hypothesis
• Testing through experiments or analysis
• Refining your approach based on results

✅ Eligible Example: A software company testing different machine learning models to improve speech recognition in noisy environments.

❌ Not Eligible Example: Routine debugging or minor software updates.

3. Categories of Eligible SR&ED Work

The CRA recognizes three primary categories of eligible work:

🧪 Basic Research

• Research carried out to expand scientific knowledge without an immediate commercial application.
• Example: Studying the genetic makeup of fungi to understand plant resistance to disease.

⚙️ Applied Research

• Research aimed at solving a specific industry problem or practical application.
• Example: Developing a new type of bio-based fertilizer to improve soil health.

🛠️ Experimental Development (Most Common SR&ED Claim)

• The creation or improvement of materials, devices, products, or processes.
• Example: Building a more energy-efficient battery for electric vehicles.

🔧 Support Work (Only Eligible if Directly Related to R&D)

• Engineering, design, operations research, data collection, testing, and programming—as long as they contribute to eligible R&D work.

💡 Example: If your engineers are testing multiple prototypes of an automated irrigation system, their work qualifies.

4. Industries That Commonly Qualify for SR&ED

SR&ED isn’t limited to tech companies—many industries qualify, including:

✅ Software & AI

• Developing new machine learning models, cloud computing solutions, or cybersecurity protocols.
• Example: Developing an AI-powered system that detects and mitigates phishing attacks in real-time by analyzing email patterns and user behaviour.

✅ Agriculture & Agri-Food

• New crop breeding techniques, smart irrigation, soil sensors.
• Example: Developing a drone-based system to optimize pesticide application.

✅ Manufacturing & Engineering

• Robotics, process automation, advanced materials.
• Example: Designing lighter and stronger materials for airplane manufacturing.

✅ Biotech & Life Sciences

• Pharmaceutical research, medical devices, gene therapy.
• Example: Developing a new cancer treatment drug.

✅ Cleantech & Renewable Energy

• Solar panel innovations, energy storage solutions, carbon capture technology.
• Example: Improving efficiency in hydrogen fuel cells.

✅ Entertainment & Media

• AI-generated content, virtual production, interactive storytelling.
• Example: Developing a real-time motion capture system for CGI in movies.

✅ Legal & Compliance

• Regulatory compliance tracking, automated document review, legal workflow optimization.
• Example: Developing a system to streamline due diligence for mergers and acquisitions by automatically flagging potential legal risks.

✅ Education & Training

• Interactive learning tools, curriculum development, hands-on training simulations.
• Example: Designing a virtual reality simulation for medical students to practice surgical procedures in a risk-free environment.

✅ Fashion & Textiles

• Sustainable fabric innovations, 3D-printed clothing, AI-driven fashion design.
• Example: Developing biodegradable textiles that reduce environmental impact.

✅ Consumer Goods

• Smart packaging, sustainable product development, AI-driven market trend analysis.
• Example: Developing a self-cooling beverage can that keeps drinks cold without refrigeration.

If your business is solving a technical challenge and testing new ideas, you likely qualify to receive SR&ED tax credit!

5. Common Misconceptions About SR&ED Eligibility

🚫 “SR&ED is only for tech companies.”
→ Wrong! It applies to agriculture, manufacturing, software, biotech, cleantech, and more.

🚫 “My business is too small to qualify.”
→ Even pre-revenue startups can claim refundable credits.

🚫 “We didn’t invent anything new, so we don’t qualify.”
→ You don’t need a breakthrough invention—improving an existing technology or process counts.

🚫 “We failed, so we can’t apply.”
→ Wrong! Unsuccessful R&D is still eligible, as long as you follow a systematic approach.

Wrapping Up

If your business is experimenting, testing, and solving technical challenges, you should seriously consider applying for SR&ED.

Next Up:

👉 How Much Can You Get? Our next blog post will break down SR&ED refund calculations so you know exactly how much money you could be getting back!