Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC)

• Refundable tax credit of 30% on eligible expenses exceeding the applicable exclusion threshold, up to a maximum of $1 million in eligible expenses.
• Refundable tax credit of 20% on eligible expenses that exceed the $1 million maximum.
• Eligible expenses include salaries, 50% of subcontractor or research payments, and certain equipment costs, but not buildings or land.

• The applicant must be a corporation operating a business in Quebec.
• The company must carry out eligible scientific research and experimental development (R&D) or pre-commercialization activities in Quebec, or have these activities conducted on its behalf under contract within Quebec.
• Eligible pre-commercialization activities must follow and be continuous with R&D work performed in Quebec by the company or on its behalf.

Who is eligible?

• Companies operating a business in Quebec that carry out research and experimental development (R-D) activities.
• Companies conducting pre-commercialization activities of innovations developed in Quebec.

Who is not eligible

• Companies that claim another Québec tax credit for the same expenditure (e.g., cannot apply for both CRIC and another tax credit such as the Investment and Innovation Tax Credit (C3i) for the same costs).
• Companies holding an initial certificate for the tax holiday for large investment projects cannot claim CRIC for expenses related to property used or acquired for that project.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries or wages paid to employees conducting eligible activities.
• 50% of payments made to subcontractors under contracts carried out in Quebec.
• 50% of payments to eligible public research centres, research consortia, or eligible university entities.
• Acquisition costs of equipment, excluding buildings, land, or rights to use buildings or land.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

• Respect of the exclusion threshold determined based on expenses and the number of employees involved in the covered activities.
• Compliance of the declared works with the definition of R&D recognized by the federal government.
• Rigorous and detailed documentation of eligible expenses.
• Justification of the use of capital assets in Quebec for 730 consecutive days.
• Verification of the origin of locally subcontracted activities, if applicable.
• Sharing of expense limits for associated companies according to established rules.

• The prescribed application form for the CRIC will be made available in 2025.
• Quebec's legislation is harmonized with federal definitions of R&D for program purposes.
• The Canada Revenue Agency is responsible for the scientific review of R&D work claimed under this program.
• Detailed government documents, such as the Budget 2025-2026 and additional information releases, provide further reference for applicants.