Today’s technological frontrunners are tomorrow’s economic champions. In order to triumph in the global innovation race, nations go to great lengths to boost domestic innovation. An increasingly popular instrument of such government support is known as the ‘R&D tax incentive’. Scholars have particularly noted its greater incentive impact on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, correct use of this fiscal tool remains clouded by legal and economic complexities, often leading to misallocation of tax money. This study draws on the rich experience of the UK as a seasoned lawmaker in this field, to derive internationally transferrable policy lessons and principles that may be used in assessing and optimizing the potency of research and development tax incentives for SMEs. Following a theoretical analysis of the historical legal developments, annual government statistics, literature, and policy papers, this study argues that policymakers must take into account appropriateness, cost-efficiency, and accessibility in the design.

中文翻译：

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通过税收优惠促进中小企业创新：英国的经验教训

今天的技术领先者是明天的经济冠军。为了在全球创新竞赛中获胜，各国不遗余力地推动国内创新。一种越来越受欢迎的政府支持工具被称为“研发税收激励”。学者们特别注意到它对中小型企业 (SME) 的更大激励影响。然而，这种财政工具的正确使用仍然受到法律和经济复杂性的影响，经常导致税收资金分配不当。本研究借鉴英国作为该领域经验丰富的立法者的丰富经验，得出可用于评估和优化中小企业研发税收优惠效力的国际可转让政策经验和原则。