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Source verified July 31, 2026
Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC)
Refundable support for Québec innovation and commercialization
Latest source updateLast Update: April 18, 2026Latest change: The CRIC page now includes full eligibility, procedure, and assistance rules for the tax credit, replacing the earlier budget overview with program details.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: April 18, 2026
Latest change: The CRIC page now includes full eligibility, procedure, and assistance rules for the tax credit, replacing the earlier budget overview with program details.
CRIC program details published
The CRIC content has been expanded from a budget announcement into a full program page with detailed eligibility rules, qualifying R&D and pre-commercialization activities, and the taxation-year start date after March 25, 2025. It also adds the filing procedure, the RD-1029.8.CR-T form, the refundable credit rates, the exclusion threshold, and the coordination rules with other Québec assistance measures.
Funding available
Up to 30% of project cost
Deadline
Open continuously
Opened March 26, 2025
Location
Quebec, Canada
Who can apply
Corporations that operate a business in Québec and have an establishment there
See full eligibility
Overview
Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) offers eligible Québec corporations a refundable tax credit of 30% on qualified expenditures over the applicable exclusion threshold up to $1 million, and 20% above that amount. It supports R&D and pre-commercialization activities undertaken in Québec, including employee salaries or wages, certain subcontractor payments, and equipment acquisition costs.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
- Obtain certifications or accreditations
Eligible Funding
- Up to 30% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Basic research
- Applied research
- Experimental development to create new materials, products, devices or processes, or improve existing ones, including incremental improvements
- Tests, technological validations and studies carried out to meet regulatory requirements and aimed at obtaining an initial approval or certification for the purpose of commercializing an innovation
- Product design, including the development of form and aesthetics, improved functionality and choice of materials
Documents Needed
- Form RD‑1029.8.CR‑T
- The corporation’s corporate income tax return
- Form RD‑1029.8.PR for the pre-commercialization component, if applicable
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Corporations that operate a business in Québec and have an establishment there
- Corporations that undertake eligible R&D or pre-commercialization activities in Québec, or have them carried out on their behalf in Québec under a contract
- Corporations, other than excluded corporations, that are members of an eligible partnership may benefit from the CRIC on their share of eligible partnership expenditures
Who is not eligible
- Corporations exempt from tax
- Canadian Crown corporations and their wholly-controlled subsidiaries
- Corporations controlled, directly or indirectly, within the 24 months preceding the date on which an R&D contract or a pre-commercialization contract was entered into, by an eligible university entity, an eligible public research centre, an eligible research consortium, or a trust one of whose capital or income beneficiaries is one of those entities, as well as corporations related to such corporations
- Corporations carrying on a personal services business
Eligible expenses
- Salaries or wages paid to the corporation’s employees
- 50% of the amount paid to a subcontractor for work carried out in Québec
- 50% of payments made to an eligible public research centre, an eligible research consortium or an eligible university entity
- Property acquisition costs or equipment acquisition costs for eligible activities undertaken in Québec
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs relating to the acquisition of a building, land or a right to use a building or land
- Capital expenditures for property that, before acquisition, had been used for any purpose or had been acquired to be used or leased for any purpose whatever
- Property used, or acquired to be used, as part of a large investment project by a corporation holding an initial qualification certificate for the tax holiday relating to the carrying out of a large investment project or for the new deduction relating to the carrying out of a large investment project
Eligible geographic areas
- All administrative regions of Québec
How to apply
- Complete form RD‑1029.8.CR‑T.
- Attach the form to the corporation’s corporate income tax return.
Processing and Agreement
- The Canada Revenue Agency carries out the scientific review of R&D work.
- If expenditures relating to R&D activities or expenditures relating to pre-commercialization activities are reimbursed, in whole or in part, the CRIC granted on the reimbursed amount will be recovered by means of a special tax.
- The portion of the CRIC attributable to the acquisition of property used in R&D or pre-commercialization activities will be recovered by means of a special tax if, during the minimum period of 730 consecutive days following the beginning of the use of the property, it ceases to be used solely in Québec in whole or in substantial part in eligible activities, subject to the stated exceptions.
Additional information
- Québec legislation is harmonized with federal legislation as regards the definition of R&D.
- The Canada Revenue Agency carries out the scientific review of R&D work.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) Program
What is the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC)?
Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) offers eligible Québec corporations a refundable tax credit of 30% on qualified expenditures over the applicable exclusion threshold up to $1 million, and 20% above that amount. It supports R&D and pre-commercialization activities undertaken in Québec, including employee salaries or wages, certain subcontractor payments, and equipment acquisition costs.
How much funding can be received?
Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) Funds up to 30% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) program?
To be eligible for the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) program, you must:
The applicant must operate a business in Québec and have an establishment there.
The applicant must carry out eligible R&D or pre-commercialization activities in Québec, or have them carried out on its behalf in Québec under a contract.
The taxation year must begin after March 25, 2025.
What expenses are eligible under Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC)?
Basic research
Applied research
Experimental development to create new materials, products, devices or processes, or improve existing ones, including incremental improvements
Tests, technological validations and studies carried out to meet regulatory requirements and aimed at obtaining an initial approval or certification for the purpose of commercializing an innovation
Product design, including the development of form and aesthetics, improved functionality and choice of materials
Where is the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) available?
The Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) is a Tax Credits
Who are the financial supporters of the Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC)?
Research, Innovation and Commercialization Tax Credit (CRIC) is funded by Government of Québec