Unlocking Innovation: AI, R&D Tax Relief & IP in 2026

Explore how R&D tax relief, Patent Box incentives and IP strategy can support businesses using or developing AI.

If you’re an innovative business, no matter what industry you’re in, understanding how to protect and maximise your ideas is essential.

Join us for this online event as we explore how the evolving R&D tax relief landscape, Patent Box incentives, and intellectual property (IP) strategy can help your business thrive – especially if you’re using AI as part of your business processes or creating innovations which utilise AI.

With HMRC increasing scrutiny of R&D claims, coupled with significant regime changes and growing commercial interest in AI-related IP, it’s more important than ever to ensure your claims are robust and your innovations are protected.

Our expert speakers will walk you through:

• R&D Tax Incentives: Ensuring your claims are optimised, robust and HMRC compliant through efficient data capture and documentation
• IP Strategies for AI and Software Innovation: Protecting algorithms, data, and software
• Patent Box: Unlocking tax incentives if you have or are developing patented inventions
• Revenue optimisation: consider steps you may take beyond protecting your ideas to ensure your commercial interests are optimised
• Technology in your business processes: The opportunities and challenges of integrating technology and automation into your tax and IP functions

Who should attend?

This session is designed for decision-makers, founders, finance and innovation leads across all industries and sectors in Greater Manchester and beyond, including:

• Innovative companies curious about IP or Innovation tax incentives
• Startups unsure if they qualify for Innovation tax incentives
• Scale-ups wanting to ensure they are HMRC compliant
• Any business developing new products, services, or software
• Businesses seeking to automate and streamline their in-house IP and tax functions
• Businesses who license the use of their IP and/or asset to third parties

Agenda and discussion points:

• The value of innovation: Why protecting and leveraging new ideas matters
• Automation and AI: Practical uses and opportunities for all businesses, in particular in tax transformation
• R&D tax relief: Latest updates and how to prepare robust, optimised and technology enabled R&D claims
• Intellectual Property: Protecting your business assets. Possibilities and Pitfalls of using AI to help you protect your IP.
• Patent box: How to benefit from profits on patented innovations
• Revenue optimisation: Licensing IP and beyond
• Final thoughts: Key takeaways and next steps

Speakers:

• Jack Stevenson-Hill, Principal Associate, Marks & Clerk
• Ian Rowland, Innovation Tax Partner, Grant Thornton
• Sophie Edwards, Innovation Tax Associate Director, Grant Thornton
• Gil Oglesby, Tax Transformation Partner, Grant Thornton
• Ross Wilson, Royalty Review Senior Manager, Grant Thornton
• Belinda Carp, Innovation Specialist, GM Business Growth Hub