Did you miss our live webinar? We recently partnered with Quality Smart Solutions to host an in-depth session on Canada’s SR&ED tax credit program—and the recording is now available for you to watch anytime.
In this informative presentation, David Réti from SR&ED Unlimited (with 18 years of SR&ED experience) and Marie Sweeney from Quality Smart Solutions break down everything you need to know about turning your innovation efforts into valuable tax credits.
WATCH THE FULL WEBINAR
Discover SR&ED: How to Turn Innovation into Tax Credits
▶ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9hRK8MXlOY
Video Chapters
Jump to the section that interests you most:
| Timestamp | Section |
| 0:00 | Meet The Speakers — Introduction to David Réti and Marie Sweeney, plus a comprehensive SR&ED overview |
| 23:10 | Fireside Chat — Deep dive into real-world scenarios, documentation, and how SR&ED intersects with regulatory compliance |
| 42:12 | Q&A Time — Audience questions on eligibility, startups, troubleshooting vs. SR&ED, consultant fees, and more |
What You’ll Learn in This Webinar
Whether you’re new to SR&ED or looking to strengthen your claims, this session covers:
- What SR&ED really means — and why it’s not just for tech companies or research labs
- How to recognize eligible work in your own operations (with real-world examples)
- The “Now What Do I Do?” test — the key question that determines SR&ED eligibility
- What expenses qualify — wages, materials, and contractor costs
- Documentation best practices — what the CRA wants to see
- Common mistakes to avoid — including the “optimization” trap
- Live Q&A — answers to audience questions about specific industries and scenarios
Key Takeaways from the Webinar
If you’re short on time, here are the essential insights from our presentation:
SR&ED Is Canada’s Largest Innovation Funding Program
The Scientific Research and Experimental Development program offers refundable tax credits to Canadian companies doing eligible R&D work. Unlike grants, there’s no budget cap—if your projects qualify, you’re entitled to the refund.
It’s Not Just for Tech Companies
The biggest misconception? That SR&ED is only for labs and software firms. In reality, the program is industry-agnostic and rewards companies for advancing their internal knowledge. Food and beverage, cannabis, manufacturing, agriculture, medical devices—companies across all sectors can qualify.
The Key Question: “Now What Do I Do?”
As David explains in the webinar, SR&ED eligibility comes down to one critical question: As an expert in your field, did you hit a wall where you had to ask yourself, “Now what do I do?”
This distinguishes SR&ED from routine work. You’re expected to solve everyday problems using existing knowledge. SR&ED begins when you encounter an obstacle with no clear path forward—when you don’t know how to find the answer, not just what the answer is.
The Pizza Example
One of the most memorable moments from the webinar is David’s pizza analogy:
Not SR&ED: You develop a gluten-free pizza, test a few cheese toppings, and your tasting panel picks the winner. That’s routine product development.
Potentially SR&ED: Your gluten-free crust can’t support the topping weight—slices fall apart when picked up. Now you face a technological obstacle with multiple possible approaches but no certainty about what will work.
Documentation Matters
As both David and Marie emphasize: “If you didn’t write it down, it didn’t happen.” Good SR&ED documentation tells the story of your development journey—problems encountered, hypotheses tested, results observed, and knowledge gained.
Pro tip from the webinar: Even 5 minutes per week documenting project progress can make a significant difference if your claim is reviewed.
Questions Answered in the Q&A
The webinar includes a robust Q&A session (jump to 42:12) covering:
- How breeding and cultivation work qualifies (cannabis, agriculture)
- Which stages of product development are eligible
- The difference between troubleshooting and SR&ED
- Whether startups can apply
- How consultants and contractors factor into claims
- The correlation between patentability and SR&ED eligibility
- Typical consultant fees and what to look for
Ready to Explore Your SR&ED Eligibility?
The SR&ED program is designed to support Canadian innovation, and the government wants eligible companies to claim these credits. There’s no budget that runs out, no competition against other applicants.
A 15-minute conversation can help you identify whether you have eligible projects and what your potential claim might look like—before you invest significant time in the process.
We handle the technical reports, cost calculations, and CRA submissions—so you can focus on what you do best: innovating.
| Book a Call with SR&ED Unlimited: https://sredunlimited.net/
Watch the Full Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9hRK8MXlOY |
This blog post is based on our webinar “Discover SR&ED: How to Turn Innovation into Tax Credits” featuring David Réti from SR&ED Unlimited and Marie Sweeney from Quality Smart Solutions.
