Alaska Patent of the Month – March 2025
This month, the U.S. patent office recorded no new patents assigned to Alaska-based inventors or organizations—a quiet spell in an otherwise steadily inventive state. While it’s not unusual for regional activity to fluctuate, the absence stands out in a national landscape where innovation often surges in unexpected places.
Alaska, with its unique environmental challenges and remote communities, has long inspired practical, forward-thinking inventions—from off-grid energy systems to advanced materials designed for subzero climates. These innovations often stem from necessity, addressing local issues that rarely make headlines but have wide-reaching potential.
A pause in filings doesn’t necessarily mean a slowdown in innovation. It may reflect timing differences in the patent process or a focus on development stages before public disclosure. Many Alaskan inventors and research institutions are actively working behind the scenes, refining solutions to problems most regions never encounter.
As we await the next wave of disclosures, the broader message remains: innovation is not always linear, and regional data offers just a snapshot in time. The real story is often in the labs, workshops, and field sites where ideas quietly take shape before reaching the patent office.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
Who We Are:
Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.
Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.
What is the R&D Tax Credit?
The Research & Experimentation Tax Credit (or R&D Tax Credit), is a general business tax credit under Internal Revenue Code section 41 for companies that incur research and development (R&D) costs in the United States. The credits are a tax incentive for performing qualified research in the United States, resulting in a credit to a tax return. For the first three years of R&D claims, 6% of the total qualified research expenses (QRE) form the gross credit. In the 4th year of claims and beyond, a base amount is calculated, and an adjusted expense line is multiplied times 14%. Click here to learn more.
R&D Tax Credit Preparation Services
Swanson Reed is one of the only companies in the United States to exclusively focus on R&D tax credit preparation. Swanson Reed provides state and federal R&D tax credit preparation and audit services to all 50 states.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call or email our CEO, Damian Smyth on (800) 986-4725.
Feel free to book a quick teleconference with one of our national R&D tax credit specialists at a time that is convenient for you.
R&D Tax Credit Audit Advisory Services
creditARMOR is a sophisticated R&D tax credit insurance and AI-driven risk management platform. It mitigates audit exposure by covering defense expenses, including CPA, tax attorney, and specialist consultant fees—delivering robust, compliant support for R&D credit claims. Click here for more information about R&D tax credit management and implementation.
Our Fees
Swanson Reed offers R&D tax credit preparation and audit services at our hourly rates of between $195 – $395 per hour. We are also able offer fixed fees and success fees in special circumstances. Learn more at https://www.swansonreed.com/about-us/research-tax-credit-consulting/our-fees/