Ken R. Cudmore - President, TSGI
Ken’s experience with technology assistance programs – particularly the SR&ED program – has deep roots, back to his initial involvement in 1988. Since then he has successfully brought to fruition government assistance in SR&ED claims in a wide variety of fields, such as biotechnology, hydraulic engineering and software to name only a few. He has been intensively involved in preparing and advocating for hundreds of SR & ED claims and is uniquely multidisciplinary with expertise in the financial, business development, and science aspects of TSGI’s clients.

Ken has had extensive involvement in the broader business community in Calgary, Alberta. He served a number of years in the volunteer position of President of the Entrepreneurial CA’s of Calgary, earning a Distinguished Service Award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta. Ken headed up the joint CRA-industry SR&ED Information Technology Oversight Committee for the Prairie Region for the duration of its existence (2001-3). He is regularly involved in a number of advocacy efforts related to technology assistance programs through both formal (e.g. the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance) and informal means, as well as being a member of Venture Alberta, speaking out on many issues relevant to R&D companies whenever and wherever the opportunity arises.

Ken's background includes a BSc in Computer Science, MBA in Marketing, and Chartered Accountant and Certified Financial Planner designations. He grew TSGI as a specialized consulting firm since 2000 from his Chartered Accountancy practice which provided a broad spectrum of accounting services: business, tax, financial, and strategic planning to Calgary businesses for over two decades. As part of that broader business assistance framework, Ken had numerous opportunities to help companies with accessing financial assistance through SR&ED, IRAP, and other funding and was inspired by the significant impact that these sources of financial assistance provided to a company’s development capability.

Prior to his Chartered Accountancy practice, Ken was a full time faculty member at the University of Calgary in the Faculty of Management (now known as the Haskayne School of Business).

Ken’s personal interests are eclectic, ranging from sailing to squash to cycling to woodworking. He volunteered for many years as Cub/Scout leader, and is a dedicated participant in the annual Multiple Sclerosis Bike Challenge.

Robert A Place - Director of Research, TSGI
As Director of Research for TSGI since 2004, Bob provides a wealth of experience with the SR&ED program gained at Canada Revenue Agency. Responsible for the SR&ED program for the Prairie Region (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the NWT) for nearly two decades (1985-2003), Bob successfully brought the SR&ED program through numerous improvements. He has a thorough understanding of the principles of the program and has managed the administration of thousands of SR&ED claims for all types of industries.

Bob provides advice and guidance on interpretational issues and assists in communications with CRA in both science and financial audits. With his extensive experience and insightful approach, Bob is a valuable resource for both our clients and the TSGI team.

Our 10+ R&D Consulting Team Builds Business Assistance When you Need it Most, Targeted to Technology Grants / Tax Credits
Grant proposal writing complemented by accounting services provided by Technology Strategies Group Inc’s expert Chartered Accountants are tailored to the needs of your company to minimize your time investment and to maximize your benefit for that invested time. Our dedicated science team have backgrounds that collectively allow us to cover virtually any field of technology or science. Our team works collaboratively in providing business assistance to achieve the best result for your company.

Why Innovative Companies Never Get Around to
Applying for Technology Grants
Typically, the technical writing process is never easy for your key team members, who are closest to the work done and tend to be too humble to trumpet their accomplishments. In addition they tend to be the people whose time is most in demand for critical technology development work on a time-crunched path. Time and again, we have seen technology grants that would have been rightfully owing to a company, slip away because competing time demands lost to grant filing deadlines. If your company’s work qualifies under the SR&ED technology “grant” program, it deserves the financial assistance that it is entitled to.

Grant Proposal Writing Tailored to Your Schedule and to Save Your Time
Our R&D consulting team comes in to plan with your team, brief flexible time windows and meeting places of your choosing (Morning person? We do breakfast) to interview your key team members involved in the developmental project, in conjunction with tracking down the associated expenditures with your financial personnel. Our draft report is reviewed and approved by your company, then typically submitted approximately 6 weeks following the first interviews (although this timeline can be compressed or extended if you desire).

Throughout the process, our guiding objective is to minimize your time, so we use interviewing and grant proposal writing techniques coupled with financial information gathering techniques that use our time, in preference to your time, to the extent possible.