Webinar – Navigating the 2026 SR&ED Reform: Understanding Bill C-15

Navigating the 2026 SR&ED reform can feel complex — but understanding the new rules introduced under Bill C-15 can unlock significant opportunities for innovation-driven companies in Canada.

In this webinar, Laurent Lecanu, Director Life Sciences Cluster North America, provides a practical breakdown of the latest SR&ED changes and what they mean for companies across biotech, medtech, manufacturing, and technology sectors.

From expanded refundable tax credits to the reinstatement of CapEx eligibility and new provincial enhancements in Quebec, this session covers the key updates business leaders need to understand to optimize their R&D and investment strategies.

Whether you are scaling operations, investing in new infrastructure, or optimizing your innovation funding strategy, this webinar delivers actionable insights based on real-world advisory experienc

What you will learn: 

Who is this webinar for?

✔ CEOs, Founders & Business Owners
Looking to scale innovation and optimize funding opportunities

✔ CFOs & Finance Leaders
Focused on tax efficiency, cash flow, and investment planning

✔ R&D, Innovation & Technical Leaders
Managing eligible research activities and development projects

✔ Life Sciences, Biotech, Medtech & Manufacturing Companies
Investing in infrastructure, equipment, and scale-up operations

✔ Corporate Development & Investors
Evaluating valuation impact and incentive-driven growth strategies

Webinar agenda:

• • Overview of the 2026 SR&ED reform and Bill C-15
• • Expansion of refundable tax credits and eligibility changes
• • CapEx reinstatement and practical implications
• • Provincial incentives overview (Quebec CRIC & CDAE IA)
• • Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance (ACCA/ECCA) explained
• • Transfer pricing, OECD alignment, and compliance risks
• • Impact on scaling, investment decisions, and M&A strategy
• • Live Q&A session

Questions and Answers

Below you will find the answers to the questions raised during the webinar, prepared by our expert Laurent Lecanu.

Please note that these answers are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice.

If you have questions related to your specific situation or that of your organization, we encourage you to contact us directly.

Is there a clear definition of what qualifies as eligible R&D investment?

Yes. However, eligibility needs to be assessed by reviewing all expenses incurred by the company in relation to R&D activities. Eligible expenses may include salary costs, consumables, equipment, and building modifications related to R&D.

For example, if a life sciences manufacturing company builds or sets up an analytical chemistry lab to validate production batches, develop new analytical methods, or validate new manufacturing processes, the associated costs — including the facility modifications and equipment purchases — could qualify for R&D tax credits.

In the case of an end-to-end ERP system being developed internally for a niche business, under what conditions would the development work and related costs be considered eligible SR&ED activities?

Yes, absolutely. If the ERP system is being developed internally from end to end — meaning the company is not simply purchasing an existing solution, but actively designing and building it — the work may qualify as eligible R&D.

This includes situations where the company hires development teams or uses in-house developers to create the system. Eligible expenses may include employee salaries, contractor invoices, and equipment or components purchased as part of the ERP development process

From what date can companies start claiming CapEx expenses under the new federal SR&ED rules, and how does this differ for Quebec provincial incentives?

Eligibility depends on the company’s fiscal year.

At the federal level, the new CapEx eligibility rules apply starting from December 16, 2024. Companies may begin claiming eligible expenses provided their fiscal year starts after that date. For companies with a December 31 year-end, this generally means fiscal year 2025 would be eligible.

In Quebec, the provincial changes apply starting April 1, 2025. For example, if a company’s fiscal year ends on March 31, eligibility would begin with fiscal year 2026 rather than 2025.

If a fiscal year overlaps these implementation dates, the period would generally not qualify. The fiscal year must fall entirely within the eligible timeframe.

How is CCPC eligibility impacted when a Canadian company is publicly traded or privately held but the majority of shareholders are not Canadian residents?

CCPC status in Quebec is no longer a criterion. This means that even if a company is foreign-controlled (i.e., the majority of its shareholders are not Canadian residents), it can still benefit from the highest R&D tax credit rate, including publicly traded companies.

If I rent equipment, can I claim the cost of rental as an R&D tax credit?

Generally, no. Rental costs alone are not eligible for SR&ED tax credits.

However, if the lease agreement includes a purchase option — similar to a lease-to-own structure — the equipment may become eligible under the new CapEx rules.

For a multi-unit retailer operating a distribution center, would renovation works aimed at increasing capacity (e.g. new racking systems, space expansion, layout improvements) qualify as SR&ED or other incentive programs?

In most cases, a standard distribution center operation would not qualify for SR&ED, as distribution activities alone are not considered R&D. Therefore, renovations intended purely to increase storage capacity or improve logistics operations would generally not be eligible for R&D tax credits.

That said, these projects could potentially be assessed under other programs, such as commercial real estate incentives, particularly where property tax optimization or facility investment programs apply.

There may also be eligibility in more advanced logistics environments, such as third-party logistics (3PL) operations handling clinical trial materials or temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products. In cases where companies are developing new temperature-controlled systems, AI-driven environmental controls, or innovative logistics technologies, R&D eligibility may exist.

In Quebec, CapEx eligibility applies to equipment but not building upgrades — are there alternative grant or incentive programs available to support building or facility improvements?

Yes, that is correct. Under the Quebec changes, CapEx eligibility applies to equipment purchases but not to building upgrades or facility construction under the SR&ED framework.

However, there are other provincial and federal grant programs that may support building or facility investments, particularly for large-scale manufacturing or infrastructure projects. These are typically separate programs involving major capital investment initiatives and would need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.