“We’re not gonna pretend that we could do the R&D that you do.”

During a wildfire, everyone needs the same immediate information to make vital decisions. But building a physical command center takes time—precisely what is in short supply when every minute counts.

VizworXThe software company, headquartered in Calgary, saw an opportunity to offer a technology solution that would connect crews on the ground, command teams on base and officials in the capital.

“When you're dealing with cutting-edge technology, science fiction is just around the corner.”

Stephen Wee, VizworX

The company specializes in transforming complex data sets into interactive solutions for a variety of industries.

Using AR, VR, AI, IoT, geospatial mapping and biometric assessment, their virtual operating environment provides a portable command center that allows distributed teams to collaborate using 3D data that would be difficult to interpret on traditional 2D screens.

“We find that we're often dealing with 3D data, and you can naturally understand the environment better,” said Stephen Wee, lead solutions engineer at VizworX. episode from the What The Tech podcast.

This approach means that VizworX's work is experimental at its core: creating custom solutions that require experimentation to get the right results.

In other words, exactly what Canada Scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) tax credit program was designed to support. The program offers tax incentives to companies carrying out experimental developments in various sectors, allowing them to offset the costs of innovation.

But getting that value turned out to be more difficult than the team expected. Before partnering with Boast, preparing SR&ED credits meant bringing engineers into meetings to explain and document work done months earlier, which delayed their innovation process.

“We’re really good at a lot of things, especially the technical side,” Wie said. “But sometimes we need help.”

SR&ED compression

VizworX turned to Boast, a SaaS platform that uses artificial intelligence to help innovative companies apply for R&D tax credits. The platform combines financial, project and payroll data to identify eligible jobs and generate claims. Tax professionals who understand software development then review the work to ensure its accuracy.

“You have a skill set that we don't have, so we're not going to pretend that we can do the same R&D that you can,” said Paul Davenport, head of content at Boast. “But we speak technical language as well as tax policy language.”

The difference manifests itself over time. According to Boast, traditional R&D consultants can take more than 60 hours to resolve a claim. The company's process reduces that time to about five hours.

Boast says it has worked with more than 1,700 companies across North America and about 98 percent of claims go unverified. When inspections do occur, the company reimburses up to 95 percent of the claim amount.

Funding equation

For VizworX, R&D tax credits are a vital step in funding the next round of experiments. In particular, the company uses SR&ED to address risks between iterations.

“We use these grants to figure out next steps because part of it is there's always some risk,” Wee said. “We work with clients who are happy to fund and see the opportunity, but ensuring we make the most of these government grants helps us move forward.”

“We want to make sure you guys don't get bogged down trying to figure out tax policy. That's not what you're here for. You're here to promote innovation.”

Prior to joining VizworX, V worked in research and development at the University of Calgary. At VizworX, he has evolved into what he calls a “technical bridge” between theoretical and business applications. He appreciates this perspective, which allows him to see not only what can be built, but also how it can be used.

“When you're dealing with cutting-edge technology… science fiction is just around the corner,” he said.

However, the team remains rooted in practical solutions, focusing on solving real problems rather than chasing technology for technology's sake. The pace of innovation is fast and the roadmap is constantly changing.

“That’s all the joy,” he said.

Boast sees its role as helping innovators like VizworX focus on what they do best.

“You're striking at the spirit of what we do,” Davenport said. “We want to make sure you guys don't get bogged down trying to figure out tax policy. That's not what you're here for. You're here to promote innovation.”

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If you are a startup innovating in the cleantech space, Boast can really benefit from your R&D. Find out more.

Images courtesy of VizworX and Boast.