MISSISSIPPI INVENTIONINDEX | JUNE 2025
In May 2025, Mississippi recorded an inventionINDEX score of 0.77%, reflecting a relatively flat performance compared to previous months. While this figure was modest, it at least indicated ongoing, if limited, innovation activity. April’s slightly higher score of 0.85% had offered a hint of upward movement, but the May figure suggested that momentum was already slowing. The state has hovered at the lower end of the national rankings for patent filings, and the May result continued that trend without signaling significant change.
The situation in June 2025, however, represents a sharp deviation: Mississippi did not record a single patent filing for the month. This complete absence of filings is rare and notable, underscoring a concerning drop in activity. Whether this was due to seasonal variation, administrative lags, or broader economic or institutional factors remains unclear. What is clear is that the zero score interrupts any pattern of stability and points to a deeper challenge for the state’s innovation landscape.
Periods of higher inventionINDEX scores are typically linked to increased research and development, more robust startup activity, and stronger institutional engagement in technology transfer. Even small gains can help build momentum, attract funding, and demonstrate the vitality of a state’s innovation ecosystem. For a state like Mississippi, incremental progress has the potential to shift long-standing perceptions and unlock opportunities for economic diversification.
In contrast, a zero-patent month may raise red flags for stakeholders and policymakers. It can suggest structural weaknesses, such as limited access to R&D resources or insufficient support for intellectual property development. If such trends persist, they risk diminishing the state’s capacity to compete in a knowledge-driven economy. To reverse course, Mississippi may need to invest in innovation infrastructure, support university research, and encourage local inventors to pursue patent protection more actively.
