June 2025: 1.60% (B- grade)

Oregon inventionINDEX June 2025: 1.60% (B- 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).

The Oregon inventionINDEX for June 2025 came in at 1.60%. This is slightly below May’s 1.63%, suggesting a small dip in recent innovation activity. While not dramatic, the decline signals a modest slowdown after a strong spring, especially in April, when the index reached 2.65%. These changes can reflect many factors, such as shifts in patent filings, academic research cycles, or private-sector R&D output.

Compared to June 2024, when the score was 1.88%, this year’s result is weaker. It also falls short of the 12-month peak of 2.90% in July 2024. Higher scores in months like February, September, and October last year point to bursts of invention activity. These may be linked to product launches, funding rounds, or coordinated efforts between research centers and startups.

A high inventionINDEX score often reflects a healthy innovation pipeline. It suggests new patents are being filed, technologies are being developed, and collaboration is strong. This can attract more investment, strengthen tech job growth, and improve Oregon’s reputation as a hub for innovation. On the other hand, a drop in the score may signal challenges such as reduced research output or slower commercialization efforts.

Despite recent fluctuations, Oregon’s index remains stable above 1% for most of the year. This indicates a steady flow of inventive activity, though with room for improvement. To raise the score, targeted support for startups, university tech transfer, and funding access may help. Regular tracking of this index can guide decisions that build a stronger innovation economy over time.

Discussion:

In June, the Oregon inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average and underperformed the downward trend for the year. This is similar to the prior 12 months, which experienced a considerable downward 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 Oregon office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Portland, Eugene, Salem, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Bend, Medford, Springfield, and Corvallis.

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.

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