June 2025: 1.25% (A+ grade)

Missouri inventionINDEX June 2025: 1.25% (A+ grade)

The inventionINDEX measures innovation output by comparing GDP growth with patent production growth. 

Anything over C grade is positive sentiment; anything under C is negative outlook/sentiment. Using that sentiment, it is possible to observe trends over time, and also compare states/countries. In doing so, we can predict which states have the best chance to recover economically from the pandemic (or any other economic incident that may occur).

Missouri’s inventionINDEX score increased to 1.25% in June 2025, up from 1.16% in May. This growth brings the state close to its recent highs from April 2025 (1.24%) and October 2024 (1.27%). While not a dramatic change, the improvement signals consistent patent activity. Missouri’s innovation pace appears to be stabilizing after slight dips earlier in the year.

Higher scores typically reflect increased patent filings and a healthy R&D environment. For Missouri, this suggests that universities, startups, and established companies continue to invest in new technologies. As a result, the state may see stronger economic development, better job creation in tech sectors, and enhanced competitiveness in attracting investors.

In contrast, lower scores—like those seen in March and February 2025 (both at 1.07%)—can indicate reduced innovation activity. This may stem from limited funding, fewer collaborations, or slowdowns in product development. If the trend continues downward, it could impact long-term economic growth and weaken the state’s reputation as a center for innovation.

Despite occasional declines, Missouri’s scores have remained within a narrow band over the past 12 months. This consistency provides a strong foundation for growth. With the right policy support and strategic investment, Missouri could elevate its innovation profile further and attract more high-impact inventors and industries.

Discussion:

In June, the Missouri inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was higher than the previous year’s average and outperformed the downward trend for the year. This is in contrast to the prior 12 months, which experienced a slight upward trend. 

As the economy continues to stabilize in the post-pandemic era, it remains uncertain whether any backlog of applications still exists or if the department has returned to normal processing timelines. The inventionINDEX could also be affected by lingering consequences from the pandemic, such as company closures, reduced workforces, and limited R&D capabilities, which may still be impacting current operations.

Learn More:

Are you thinking of patenting any of your bright ideas? Did you know your research work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please check out our free online eligibility test.

Swanson Reed’s Missouri office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Kansas City, St Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Independence, Lees Summit, Ofallon, St Joseph, St Charles, and Blue Springs.

Feel free to book a quick teleconference with one of R&D tax specialists if you would like to learn more about R&D tax credit opportunities.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is the largest Specialist R&D tax credit advisory firm in the United States. With offices nationwide, we are one of the only firms globally to exclusively provide R&D tax credit consulting services to our clients. We have been exclusively providing R&D tax credit claim preparation and audit compliance solutions for over 30 years. 

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