Tax credits for R&D

Companies can receive tax credits for investing in research and development.

Get tax credits for R&D work with Scion

In April 2019 new legislation introduced the R&D Tax Incentive Scheme to encourage research and development spending by businesses in New Zealand. The Scheme allows qualifying businesses to claim a 15% tax credit from the Inland Revenue Department on eligible research and development costs.

Scion is an IRD approved research provider under the Scheme. This means the usual $50,000 minimum annual R&D expenditure requirement does not apply.

Scion is unable to give advice on eligibility for the tax credit. Anyone who is interested in claiming the tax credit should receive early advice from their accountant or tax advisor. If a Scion client intends to apply for a tax credit Scion can work with the client’s accountant to ensure the contract, reports and invoices provided by Scion support the client’s application.

Further information on eligibility can be found on the IRD and Callaghan Innovation websites.

Our R&D services

Consultancy

Scion offers consultancy services that include:

  • Scientists who are world-leaders across sustainable forest management and tree improvement, forestry biosecurity, forest ecosystems, wood-processing, wood-related bioenergy, waste streams and biomaterials
  • A range of technical services, specialist facilities, and state-of the-art technology
  • Specialists in areas such as business development, technology commercialisation, value-chain optimisation and funding and investment.

R&D Services

More information on consultancy services

Contact

Jeremy Warnes, Business Development Manager

Accredited laboratory services

Scion’s analytical chemistry laboratory carries out testing on soil, foliage, wastewater, wood and wood preservatives.

More information on laboratory services

Contact

testing@scionresearch.com

Pilot and testing facilities

Improving existing products and developing new ones requires a wide range of resources. Scion offers advanced equipment and specialised skills for analysing substances, supporting product development, trouble shooting and compliance with international standards.

We work with manufacturers and product developers to improve processing systems and devise novel ways of using renewable materials. Our scientific capability supports product development based on lignocellulosic (woody) material, plant fibres, plastics, polymers, composites, green chemicals and organic wastes.

We have technologically advanced facilities to support our research activities. Our national and international networks help ensure we are working at the forefront in these rapidly developing areas.

Advanced materials development, characterisation and testing

Our capabilities include:

  • NMR, microscopy
  • Thermal analysis
  • Advanced chemical characterisation techniques
  • Chemical analysis

More information on pilot and testing facilities

Contact

Stefan Hill, Portfolio Leader, Bio/Organic Chemistry

Packaging testing and development

The specialised packaging resources and testing services available for use include:

  • A unique controlled cyclic humidity environment (the WHITE Room)
  • A commercial scale flexographic printer
  • A compostability and biodegradation testing facility (DIN CERTCO accredited and unique in Australasia).

A range of bench-to-pilot scale printing and coating resources

More information on packaging

Contact

Kate Parker, Team Lead, Sustainable Materials

Product development, testing and performance

Scion has the equipment and skills to carry out:

  • Plastic composite and adhesive testing - tensile strength, compression, three-point bending and impact testing.
  • Pulp and paper including:
  • Routine handsheet evaluation
  • Pulp quality evaluation
  • Chemical pulping and bleaching
  • Chemical analysis of wood and fibre constituents
  • Solid timber and engineered wood including mechanical, strength and seismic testing; glue testing; and developing new testing technologies
  • Wood preservative treatments to improve the durability and performance of wood.

More information on pilot and testing facilities

Contact

Stefan Hill, Portfolio Leader, Bio/Organic Chemistry
Doug Gaunt, Scientist, Materials Analysis, Characterisation and Testing

Plastics, bioplastics and compostability

We have a comprehensive selection of plastic and composite processing equipment including extrusion, injection moulding, film blowing, foaming and thermoforming, as well as being able to carry out material analysis and assess the compostabillity of plastics.

More information on pilot and testing facilities

Contact

Stefan Hill, Portfolio Leader, Bio/Organic Chemistry

Plant and industrial biotechnology

  • Plants and microorganisms including optimising plant growth and the use of microorganisms in commercial production.
  • Molecular biology and biochemistry using genomic, proteomic and metabolomic techniques to improve bio-based production.
  • Industrial fermentation developing industrial biological processes that use microbes.
  • Extractive removal and analysis extracting chemicals from plants, including tannin, lignin and compounds with antioxidant or anti-microbial activity.
  • Thermochemical processing using heat to break down organic wastes into valuable compounds.
  • Bioenergy including solid fuels such as torrefied wood and liquid biofuels such as pyrolysis oil (crude bio-diesel) and alcohols.
  • Environmental analyses.

More information on pilot and testing facilities

Contact

Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Research Group Leader, Foest Genetics and Biotechnology
Paul Bennett, Portfolio Leader, Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering

Wood modification and advanced processing

  • Chemical and thermal modification altering wood chemistry and improving product performance.
  • Timber drying including:
  • Softwood drying including world class control systems for optimum drying, energy efficiency and product performance
  • Hardwoods and exotic timbers
  • Supercritical extraction

More information on pilot and testing facilities

Contact

Elizabeth Dunningham, Acting Portfolio Leader - Indigenous Trees for Distinct Value Wood Products
Doug Gaunt, Scientist, Materials Analysis, Characterisation and Testing

Wood fibre refining facility

We have a small-scale industrial facility capable of processing wood-to-produce fibre and pulp. It is used to test operational scenarios for New Zealand’s pulp and fibre production companies.

More information on pilot and testing facilities

Contact

Karl Murton, Scientist, Process Development

Remote sensing: UAV / Drones

Capturing and using aerial imagery in forest management is a rapidly developing area. We work with forest managers to develop systems that are relevant and cost-effective.

Examples of forest management applications include:

  • High-definition geospatial work, e.g. mapping for forest planning and management
  • Pest and disease identification and monitoring
  • Forest inventory
  • Analysing the environmental impact of forest operations.

More information on UAVs/drones

Contact

Robin Hartley, Tean Lead, Autonomous Systems 
Michael Watt, Scientist, Remote Sensing and GIS