Latest News & Resources

SOLIDWORKS Applications Engineer, Jak Szura, shares his thoughts on using the 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Wireless and CadMouse Compact Wireless with SOLIDWORKS.

R&D Tax Relief Update: The latest budget brings stability, with no changes to R&D tax rates, reaffirming support for business investment decisions. Read on for more details...

In today's competitive landscape, businesses face mounting pressure to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and stay ahead of the curve with continuous innovation. Design automation is emerging as a critical solution to meet these challenges, offering a transformative approach for the future of engineering.

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is a comprehensive approach to managing a product's entire lifecycle, from inception through development, production, maintenance, and disposal. Many companies use multiple separate systems to manage their product lifecycle, leading to inefficiencies and communication issues.

In this article, we explore the transformative role of edge computing in IoT development, highlighting its ability to facilitate real-time, autonomous decision-making across various devices.

Last week we analysed the potential impact of HMRC losing a landmark software R&D tax tribunal. Coincidentally, another tribunal ruling was released, relating to a separate software R&D tax case, which HMRC won this time. We explain the key differences and the lessons they provide for future R&D tax relief claims.

What implications does a new UK Labour government have for R&D and Patent Box tax incentives in the UK? Visiativ takes a deep dive into Labour’s pre-election manifesto analysing the areas of opportunity for innovative business in the country.

Braithwaite R&D Tax Specialists rebrand to Visiativ Ireland - increasing and improving their offering to the Ireland market. Read more here!

In this article, we look at how implementing a “product lifecycle management” culture and discipline can help manufacturers address challenges by allowing teams to share information, collaborate more effectively, be more responsive, and make their limited R&D budgets stretch that bit further and with more impressive results.

The biotech industry is entering a new era with the success of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. This technology, known for its speed and adaptability, is set to revolutionise personalised medicine and vaccine development, offering new treatments for conditions like cancer and autoimmune diseases.

You may have noticed recent headlines about HMRC increasing scrutiny on R&D tax claims and the introduction of a new merged R&D tax scheme that may not benefit all companies. This has led some companies to delay their R&D tax relief claims due to concerns about the time and effort required and potential risks.

Here, we look beyond the headlines and focus on the facts instead.

Find out more about the enhanced tax relief that R&D-intensive, loss-making SMEs will receive under the new merged R&D tax relief scheme introduced by the Government on April 1st 2024. Read on...

With every material breakthrough, every design innovation, and every step towards more sustainable manufacturing practices, Additive Manufacturing reaffirms its role as a cornerstone of aerospace engineering and manufacturing.

The biggest shake-up to the R&D tax scheme since its inception is now consecrated in law. The rules governing the single RDEC scheme and the R&D Intensive SME scheme are now set in legislation. Although the new schemes do result in some minor simplifications, these rules also bring about complexities that we advise companies to seek immediate professional advice on. Read on...

Following recent changes both to the R&D tax relief scheme and to Capital Allowances, many companies are confused about which pot to claim from, in order to optimise the tax breaks they can take advantage of. Our Guide to Maximising the Allowances on Offer is worth a read if you undertake R&D

Read our guide for a reminder to secure your claims before the deadline and also to find out more about how to prepare for the upcoming changes in R&D tax incentives.

In recent years, precision fermentation has emerged as a ground-breaking technology with the potential to revolutionise various industries, particularly when it comes to food production. While the prospects are exciting, it is essential to acknowledge the potential and pitfalls of this cutting-edge technology.

The end of the year is a great time for businesses to reflect, plan, and position themselves for success in the upcoming year. Here are five year-end planning tips designed to propel your innovative business forward.

Visiativ Solutions are thrilled to announce a significant expansion of our services as an official reseller of 3DEXPERIENCE Works cloud and SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD Software in the Republic of Ireland.

In his Autumn Budget Statement, the Chancellor announced significant updates to UK R&D Tax relief. With the landscape of R&D tax relief undergoing substantial changes, it's crucial that you stay informed and prepared, as these are set to impact how you plan and claim your R&D tax credits.

Geothermal energy production boasts numerous environmental and economic advantages. It produces minimal greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the cleanest forms of energy available. Moreover, developing geothermal projects can stimulate local economies by creating jobs and attracting investment.

Visiativ UK – one of the UK’s leading innovation funding consultancies – has announced the recent acquisition of MMP Tax, the London based multi-service consultancy helping FTSE 100 and large complex multi-nationals claim technology incentives.

Included with all new SOLIDWORKS licenses, Cloud Services seamlessly connects your CAD data to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, introducing a range of transformative cloud-capable capabilities.

HMRC has published R&D claim statistics for the tax year 2021/2022, covering data on the number of companies claiming R&D tax credits, the top industries making claims, and first-time claims, etc. Following on from our blog post last week, we have summarised the key points in the useful diagram.

HMRC has published R&D claim statistics for the tax year 2021/2022, covering data on the number of companies claiming R&D tax credits, the top industries making claims, and first-time claims, etc. and we have summarised the key points in our blog. It's important to note that claims for that year can still be submitted after the cut-off date for this HMRC publication. Therefore, the statistics provided are considered 'provisional' and have been adjusted to account for claims that have not yet been received.

Recent adjustments to the submission process for R&D tax relief claims in the UK have caught many companies off guard. And the consequences are significant, with nearly half of all claims submitted since August 8th being declared invalid by HMRC.

Read our detailed R&D Tax Credits Claims checklist to ensure that the claim is able to withstand any scrutiny HMRC might choose to being.

As wildfires continue to ravage the landscapes of Southern Europe, posing unprecedented challenges for firefighters and endangering both lives and ecosystems, innovative solutions are urgently needed. One remarkable approach gaining traction in the scientific community is using sound to extinguish fires. This ground-breaking technique holds the potential to revolutionise firefighting efforts and provide a safer and more efficient means of battling the relentless infernos plaguing the region.

HMRC have published guidance for Large Businesses approaching R&D claims and it contains useful information on project sampling, R&D reports and which technical narratives should be written up in the Additional Information Form.

Can companies leverage the value of their IP even further and claim Patent Box tax relief on the income they make from licensing their patent? The answer is yes! Read on…

Draft legislation published yesterday revealed more details regarding the merger of the current SME scheme and RDEC scheme into a new single scheme for R&D tax relief for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2024.

Recent reports indicate a positive manufacturing outlook, but grants and tax credits can help overcome any investment barriers. UK manufacturers are confident and plan to increase investment, leading to improved order books and output. However, concerns remain about the gap between order book growth and output, potential delivery delays, and the shortage of skilled staff.

Scientists have recently created a paint based on a phenomenon called structural colour, which has the potential to revolutionise the way we use colour and paint.

As the 1st August begins to loom large on the horizon, we take a look at the final set of new requirements – the company and contact details. And remember – this applies to ANY R&D claims filed from 1st August this year.

In the recently released Make UK's Q1 Manufacturing Outlook, UK manufacturers demonstrate a vibrant and optimistic outlook with growing confidence and investment intentions, robust order books, and increased output. Nevertheless, there are still avid concerns over manufacturers managing cash flow and ensuring liquidity.

August 1st is getting closer. The changes are significant and all R&D claims, irrespective of which tax year they are for, must meet the new requirements.

As companies strive to meet the growing demand for connectivity and technology-driven solutions, patent landscapes become invaluable tools.

August 1st will see some of the biggest changes in the process of claiming R&D tax credits since the scheme began in 2000. From that date, all R&D claims, irrespective of which tax year they are for, must meet the new requirements - HMRC will reject all incomplete submissions.

In recent years, there have been exciting new developments in male birth control that could be real game changers.

In celebration of World IP day & women in innovation, hear from our Innovation Funding Consultants, who share their thoughts, experiences and insights on women in R&D and innovation.

If you're looking for alternative ways to optimise your tax relief for research and development (R&D), it's worth considering Patent Box as an option.

SOLIDWORKS Subscription will include new functionality from July 2023. Read our guide to find out more...

Superconductors are a remarkable class of materials that have the potential to revolutionise many areas of science and technology.

Most of the proposals from the Autumn Statement were confirmed in the Spring Budget Statement regarding cloud computing, pre-notification, and the claim submission process. There were however, two key exceptions...