England Patent of the Month – April 2025

While no new patents were filed in Alaska this month, innovation in the state is far from dormant. Entrepreneurs, engineers, and researchers continue to focus on sustainable technologies uniquely suited to Alaska’s environment and infrastructure needs. At the University of Alaska Fairbanks, for example, ongoing projects are pushing boundaries in cold climate energy systems, with teams exploring how to optimize microgrid efficiency for remote communities reliant on diesel power. Meanwhile, Anchorage-based startups are increasingly turning to machine learning and UAV technologies to address challenges in environmental monitoring and wildlife management.

Though official filings may lag behind real-time breakthroughs, Alaska’s innovation pipeline is quietly active. Many projects are in the prototype and testing phases—especially those focused on climate resilience, fisheries tech, and rural broadband solutions. These early-stage efforts often take longer to reach the patent stage, given the complexities of field testing in harsh conditions.

Innovation isn’t always visible on the public patent register. In Alaska, it’s often embedded in community-driven problem solving and cross-disciplinary research efforts that aim for long-term impact rather than rapid commercialization. As spring thaws open up seasonal research access across the state, expect to see new technologies emerging from both labs and local knowledge systems—pushing the frontier of Arctic innovation forward.

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.

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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.