OREGON INVENTIONINDEX | OCTOBER 2025
October 2025: 1.83% (B grade)
Oregon inventionINDEX October 2025: 1.83% (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).
Oregon inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months
| Month | inventionINDEX Score |
| October 2025 | 1.83% |
| Sep 25 | 2.45% |
| Aug 25 | 2.13% |
| Jul 25 | 2.04% |
| Jun 25 | 1.60% |
| May 25 | 1.63% |
| Apr 25 | 2.65% |
| Mar 25 | 1.75% |
| Feb 25 | 2.40% |
| Jan 25 | 1.58% |
| Dec 24 | 2.40% |
| Nov 24 | 1.03% |
| Oct 24 | 2.35% |
The Oregon inventionINDEX for October 2025 stands at 1.83% with a B grade, reflecting a positive sentiment, though it is lower than the previous year’s average and did not match the upward trend observed throughout the year. This current score indicates a slight dip compared to recent months, such as September 2025 (2.45%, A-) and August 2025 (2.13%, B+), suggesting a recent deceleration in innovation output. Historically, scores above a C grade are considered positive, signifying robust economic recovery potential.
A higher inventionINDEX score and a corresponding strong grade, like the A+ ratings seen in July 2024 (2.90%) and October 2023 (7.06%), are indicative of thriving innovation and a healthy economic outlook. These periods suggest a strong correlation between GDP growth and patent production, which are crucial for sustained economic stability and growth. Such positive trends empower states to better withstand economic challenges and foster an environment conducive to further research and development.
Conversely, a lower inventionINDEX score, such as the 1.03% C grade in November 2024 or the -0.55% F grade in January 2023, signals potential economic headwinds. These lower grades imply a weaker innovation output relative to GDP growth, which can lead to negative economic sentiment. Such periods might be characterized by reduced investment in research and development, slower job creation, and a more challenging environment for economic recovery, particularly in the wake of significant events like a pandemic.
Observing trends over the last 60 months reveals fluctuations, with peaks and troughs that offer insights into Oregon’s innovation landscape. While October 2025 shows a positive grade, its position relative to past performance suggests a need for continued monitoring. Understanding these historical patterns allows for a more informed perspective on the state’s economic resilience and its capacity to foster an innovative ecosystem.
Discussion:
In October, the Oregon inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average and underperformed the upward trend for the year. This is similar to the prior 12 months, which experienced an 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 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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What is the R&D Tax Credit?
The Research & Experimentation Tax Credit (or R&D Tax Credit), is a general business tax credit under Internal Revenue Code section 41 for companies that incur research and development (R&D) costs in the United States. The credits are a tax incentive for performing qualified research in the United States, resulting in a credit to a tax return. For the first three years of R&D claims, 6% of the total qualified research expenses (QRE) form the gross credit. In the 4th year of claims and beyond, a base amount is calculated, and an adjusted expense line is multiplied times 14%. Click here to learn more.
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