What Qualifies?
Emission Reduction Process Development
Redesigning industrial processes to lower greenhouse gas or contaminant output.
Sustainable Material Development
Experimenting with biodegradable, recyclable, or lower-impact alternatives.
Waste Diversion & Recycling Optimization
Creating new methods to reduce landfill waste or improve material recovery.
Soil & Nutrient Optimization Testing
Experimenting with inputs, formulations, or application techniques.
Equipment Modification for Technical Advancement
Redesigning machinery to overcome environmental or operational limitations.
Common Examples
Waste-to-Energy Process Development
Designing and refining systems to convert waste streams into usable energy.
Remediation Technology Innovation
Field-testing new approaches for soil or groundwater contamination cleanup.
Material Performance Enhancement
Experimenting with composites or treatments to improve strength, lifespan, or resistance.
Controlled Crop Trials
Experimenting with irrigation methods, nutrient blends, or growth conditions.
Livestock Health Monitoring Innovation
Developing tracking or predictive systems to improve herd performance.
Climate-Resilient Farming Techniques
Testing new methods to maintain yield under changing environmental conditions.
Top Misconceptions
Only lab-based science counts.
Field testing and pilot programs often involve significant technical uncertainty.
We were just improving efficiency.
Efficiency gains achieved through experimentation can be eligible.
Using existing technology means no SR&ED
Integrating or adapting technology to overcome unknowns can create technological advancement.
Agriculture is too traditional for SR&ED.
Modern agriculture is driven by trials, automation, system optimization, and data-driven innovation.
Failed projects don’t count.
Failures demonstrate uncertainty, they often strengthen the claim that R&D happened.
Industry-Specific Opportunities
Waste Management & Recycling
Waste Management & Recycling
- New separation and sorting methods for higher recovery
- Waste-to-energy process development and tuning
- Reducing contamination rates in recovery streams
- Throughput and efficiency improvements through iterative testing
Agri-Tech Developers
Agri-Tech Developers
- Precision agriculture monitoring platforms and algorithms
- Automated planting/harvesting system development
- AI-driven crop analytics refinement and deployment testing
- Sensor integration for reliable field performance
Clean Technology
Clean Technology
- Emission reduction system prototyping and validation
- Energy storage efficiency improvements under load
- Carbon capture / utilization process optimization
- Performance tuning for real-world operating conditions
Crop Farms & Greenhouses
Crop Farms & Greenhouses
- Controlled trials to improve yield, quality, or resilience
- Irrigation optimization to reduce water use
- Soil and nutrient delivery testing (rates, timing, application)
- Climate-control system tuning for consistent performance
Livestock & Dairy Farms
Livestock & Dairy Farms
- Automated herd health monitoring systems
- Feed formulation trials to improve output / reduce emissions
- Manure management redesign to reduce environmental impact
- Barn ventilation, housing, or climate optimization testing