CONNECTICUT INVENTION INDEX – MARCH 2025
The Invention Index measures a country’s or state’s innovation output by comparing GDP growth with patent production growth.
Connecticut Invention Index March 2025: 0.87% (D- grade)
Connecticut Invention Index over the last year:
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).
Discussion:
In March, the Connecticut Invention Index scored a negative sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average and underperformed the downward trend for the year. This is in contrast to the prior 12 months, which experienced an upward trend. As the world continues to recover from the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is unclear if there is any backlog of applications awaiting approval or if the department has fully caught up. If approvals are not yet caught up, we may see a decrease in approvals – and a reduced Invention Index – in the coming months/years as the state feels the full economic impact of companies closing and/or being forced to minimize their staffing and therefore minimize their R&D work hours.
| Month | Invention Index Score |
|---|---|
| March 2025 | 2.24% |
| February 2025 | 1.95% |
| January 2025 | 2.10% |
| December 2024 | 1.88% |
| November 2024 | 2.00% |
| October 2024 | 1.86% |
Trends in the scores over time: The Connecticut Invention Index scores over the past six months show a general upward trend, with some fluctuations. Starting from 1.86% in October 2024, the score increased to 2.00% in November, slightly dipped to 1.88% in December, then rose again to 2.10% in January 2025, slightly decreased to 1.95% in February, and peaked at 2.24% in March 2025. This indicates a positive trajectory in innovation output in Connecticut during this period.
Possible reasons behind increases or decreases: The fluctuations in the Invention Index scores could be attributed to various factors, such as changes in patent production, economic conditions, or policy changes affecting research and development activities. The overall upward trend suggests that Connecticut may have experienced growth in innovation activities, possibly due to increased investments in R&D, supportive government policies, or a rebound from previous economic downturns.
Implications of higher vs. lower scores for innovation and the local economy: Higher Invention Index scores indicate a stronger innovation output relative to GDP growth, which can have positive implications for the local economy. It suggests that the state is effectively translating economic growth into innovative activities, potentially leading to job creation, increased competitiveness, and long-term economic resilience. Conversely, lower scores may signal challenges in innovation capacity or a need for policy interventions to stimulate R&D activities.
Standout anomalies or significant shifts worth noting: The most notable shift is the peak in March 2025, where the Invention Index reached 2.24%, the highest in the six-month period. This significant increase could be the result of a surge in patent filings, successful commercialization of research, or other factors boosting innovation output. Further analysis would be required to identify the specific causes of this peak and assess whether it represents a sustainable trend or a temporary spike.
Learn more about the Invention Index here.
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