For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014, a corporation may claim a credit against the tax imposed under s. 71.23, as allocated under par. (d), an amount equal to 11.5 percent of the amount by which the corporation’s qualified research expenses for the taxable year exceed 50 percent of the average qualified research expenses for the 3 taxable years immediately preceding the taxable year for which the claimant claims the credit. If the corporation had no qualified research expenses in any of the 3 taxable years immediately preceding the taxable year for which the claimant claims the credit, the claimant may claim an amount equal to 5.75 percent of the corporation’s qualified research expenses for the taxable year for which the claimant claims the credit.

For purposes of subd. 6. a., “qualified research expenses” means qualified research expenses as defined in section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code, except that “qualified research expenses” includes only expenses incurred by the claimant for research related to the design and manufacturing of energy efficient lighting systems, building automation and control systems, or automotive batteries for use in hybrid-electric vehicles, that reduce the demand for natural gas or electricity or improve the efficiency of its use, incurred for research conducted in this state for the taxable year and does not include compensation used in computing the credit under sub. (1dx). Section 41 (f) (1), (2), (5), and (6) and (h) of the Internal Revenue Code does not apply to the credit under this subdivision.