Research and development leads to products and services competitors cannot easily copy, but it is also one of the most demanding areas to fund and administer. RSM Croatia helps companies, start-ups and research teams find the right funding sources, use available tax incentives and record R&D costs so they are ready for checks by funders and the Tax Administration.
Challenges in research and development
R&D projects carry technical and market risk, and the outcome is rarely known in advance. That makes it all the more important for the financial side of a project to be predictable and aligned with the funder's rules.
- Choosing the funding source – grants, state aid, tax incentives and venture capital come with different conditions and timelines.
- Eligibility rules – EU programmes and national aid schemes define precisely which costs are eligible and how to evidence them.
- Tracking R&D costs – researcher hours, materials and external services must be documented by project.
- Timing – for Croatia's state aid for R&D projects, the application must be filed before the project starts.
- Value of intellectual property – investors and partners expect a convincing valuation of the technology and the business model.
How we help companies investing in R&D
EU funds
Preparation and delivery of research, development and innovation (IRI) projects and other projects under the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme 2021-2027, with support for applications to programmes such as Horizon Europe.
Tax advisory
State aid for R&D projects in the form of an additional tax base deduction, from application to supporting documentation.
Business plans and studies
Feasibility studies, business plans and financial models that turn a technical idea into a convincing investment case.
M&A and transaction advisory
Preparation for investor entry, due diligence and support for start-ups and spin-offs.
Payroll
Accurate payroll for research teams and the records needed to evidence staff costs.
Why RSM Croatia
We know how evaluators and auditors think
We have learned it across more than 350 projects for EU and other funding, helping clients secure more than EUR 400 million in grants.
Grants and tax, aligned
We align the funding plan with the tax incentive and the state aid cumulation rules, so total aid for the same cost stays within the permitted intensity.
Local insight, global reach
Offices in Split and Zagreb and RSM colleagues in 120 countries who know the tax rules and incentives in your export markets.
Frequently asked questions
Companies carrying out research and development projects can receive state aid through an additional deduction from the corporate tax base for eligible costs. The application is filed before the project starts, and costs must be clearly documented. We support you from the eligibility assessment to the final documentation.
Combining is possible only within state aid rules on cumulation for the same costs. Before you apply, we prepare a funding plan showing which source covers which cost.
Yes. We help start-ups with early funding, business plans, valuations and investor readiness, with accounting that grows with the company.