Engineers in civil construction are already solving some of the most complex, technical challenges in the built environment, often without realising that this work could qualify for valuable tax incentives. From innovative groundworks on brownfield sites to bespoke concrete formulations and digital site monitoring, R&D is quietly embedded in many aspects of day-to-day project delivery.
This article explores how engineers across civil disciplines can benefit from Ireland’s R&D Tax Credit (RDTC) scheme, with real-world examples, technical criteria, and guidance on how to make a claim.
Engineering innovation on the ground
Whether working in structural, geotechnical, environmental or materials engineering, civil engineers make critical decisions that directly influence a project’s durability, safety, and environmental performance.
When projects encounter unknowns such as high water tables, unstable soils, heritage constraints, or strict carbon targets, engineers are often required to step outside standard practices and develop new approaches. These scenarios can trigger eligible R&D activity, particularly where solutions are not readily deducible and require systematic investigation.
Common qualifying activities in civil projects
Some examples of engineering work that may qualify under the RDTC scheme include:
- Designing stormwater drainage solutions for brownfield or high-water-table sites;
- Developing or testing marine-grade concrete or green asphalt mixes;
- Engineering workarounds for heritage site constraints or coastal durability;
- Structural performance testing under wind, seismic, or marine loads;
- Trialling low-carbon materials, recycled aggregates, or novel formwork systems;
- Applying BIM, digital twins, or real-time site optimisation tools;
- Sequencing or methodology innovations for confined or phased builds.
Companies involved in these activities have successfully claimed an average of more than €225,000 in tax credits.
Why claims are often missed
Despite the scale of opportunity, many businesses miss out on RDTC because they don’t realise what qualifies. Civil engineering R&D is rarely about ‘white coats in labs’, it’s about solving hard technical problems in challenging real-world environments.
What stops firms from claiming?
- Uncertainty over what counts as ‘true’ R&D;
- Difficulty tracking and evidencing qualifying effort and spend;
- Time-consuming claim preparation that needs input from both finance and engineering teams.
Support that speaks your language
ABGI Ireland helps engineering firms identify and document eligible R&D activity with confidence. Our local team includes PhD-qualified technical consultants with backgrounds in civil engineering and construction technology.
We translate complex project work into robust, Revenue-compliant reports that clearly evidence innovation, even on projects with tight timelines or non-standard conditions.
If you’re innovating on site, there’s a good chance you’re already doing R&D. And you could be entitled to a 30% tax credit or cash refund from Revenue.
To find out more, get in touch with ABGI Ireland.