The Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) program is a federal tax incentive that rewards Canadian businesses for conducting R&D in Canada. It provides refundable and non-refundable tax credits for eligible salaries, subcontractors, and materials used to develop or improve products, processes, or technologies.

Any Canadian company—from startups to large corporations—can qualify if they are solving a technological uncertainty through systematic experimentation or analysis. This includes work in software, engineering, AI, manufacturing, healthcare, or clean tech, even if the project was not commercially successful.

Eligible work includes applied research, experimental development, and supporting work such as engineering, design, data analysis, and testing. Routine testing, market research, or cosmetic updates (e.g., UI redesigns) are generally not eligible.

Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) can claim up to 35% federal refundable tax credits on eligible expenditures.When combined with provincial programs (like Ontario’s OITC and ORDTC), the total benefit can reach 40–50% of your R&D costs.

Yes — but you must coordinate them properly. If a grant funds part of your R&D costs, those expenses can’t also be claimed under SR&ED. However, a well-structured plan ensures you avoid double dipping and still maximize total funding. GovMoney’s platform automatically flags overlaps to keep claims compliant.

SR&ED refunds are usually issued within 90–120 days after filing your corporate tax return. Grant timelines vary — some are approved within 4–6 weeks, while others tied to multi-year projects may take longer. GovMoney helps track every stage of your application from submission to payment.