Shared office spaces are one of the tech industry’s highest growth areas. WeWork, the industry leader, has over 100,000 seats available to tech workers. For instance, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) has a good example of a shared space called Co-Works that provides 3D printers to users.
The chart below presents the growth in seats WeWork has experienced from 2015, to projected year-end of 2017:
Enacted in 1981, the Federal Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit allows a credit of up to 13 percent of eligible spending for new and improved products and processes. Qualified research must meet the following four criteria:
- New or improved products, processes, or software
- Technological in nature
- Elimination of uncertainty
- Process of experimentation
Eligible costs include employee wages, cost of supplies, cost of testing, contract research expenses, and costs associated with developing a patent. On December 18, 2015 President Obama signed the bill making the R&D Tax Credit permanent. Beginning in 2016, the R&D credit can be used to offset Alternative Minimum Tax and startup businesses can utilize the credit against $250,000 per year in payroll taxes.
Below are some examples of U.S. shared spaces that offer 3D printers as design tool:
Co-Works
The school provides the resources to students who study a variety of majors to stimulate the rate of innovation. Different processes and materials are being brought together, integrating with 2D and 3D practices.
25N Coworking
This co-working space resides in Geneva, Illinois where highly efficient workspaces are available for all users to achieve their business goals. To accommodate all work style spaces, private and shared offices and meeting rooms are available for use. 25N supports innovators with a 3D printer, and other necessary equipment that enables ideas to come to reality.
Tinker|Bristol
The Tinker|Bristol makerspace is a manufacturing incubator located in Bristol, Rhode Island that provides a shared space for people to “tinker, innovate, and create products in a collaborative environment” according to Makezine.com. The facility provides access to 3D printers, high-speed prototyping equipment, machines and tools. The goal is to offer advanced technologies to the talent community that will advance the business developments for new and growing manufacturing businesses.
Conclusion
Charles Goulding and Tricia Genova of R&D Tax Savers discuss 3D printing applications in shared office spaces.