FLORIDA INVENTIONINDEX | DECEMBER 2025

December 2025: 3.90% (A+ grade)

Florida inventionINDEX December 2025: 3.90% (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).

Florida inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months

The Florida inventionINDEX concluded the sixty-month historical period in December 2025 with a score of 3.90 percent, maintaining a prestigious A+ rating. This performance indicates a period of sustained stability when compared to the significant fluctuations observed over the previous five years. For example, the index has climbed substantially from its lowest recorded point of 1.94 percent in January 2021. While the current score is slightly lower than the 4.32 percent observed at the start of this period in December 2020, the consistency of the A+ rating throughout the latter half of 2025 suggests a mature and resilient environment for innovation.

When analyzing the broader trajectory, the December 2025 score sits just below the sixty-month average of approximately 3.98 percent. The most significant anomaly in the provided data occurred in October 2023, when the index reached an extraordinary peak of 11.18 percent. Although current figures have not returned to those unprecedented heights, the 3.90 percent mark represents a positive month-over-month increase from the 3.38 percent recorded in November 2025. The index has successfully transitioned away from the more frequent B and A- ratings seen in 2021 and 2022, indicating a long-term improvement in the underlying metrics of the regional innovation landscape.

Maintaining a high grade, particularly the A+ rating, yields several advantageous outcomes for the Florida innovation ecosystem. A superior score serves as a compelling indicator to institutional investors and venture capitalists that the region possesses a stable and productive infrastructure for new developments. These higher ratings typically foster increased confidence in the local market, making it easier for emerging companies to secure the capital necessary for scaling. Furthermore, a consistently high index score helps attract and retain specialized talent, as it reflects a robust economic environment where creative and technical professional efforts are likely to yield successful results.

Conversely, any significant decline in the index score could present various negative implications for future growth. When the score drops into the B-range or lower A-tiers, it often signals a potential stagnation in the pace of commercialized innovation or a tightening of available resources. Such downward trends can lead to a more risk-averse climate, where investors may hesitate to commit to long-term projects. Moreover, persistent lower ratings can highlight structural inefficiencies within the innovation pipeline, which might result in a loss of competitive advantage to neighboring regions if corrective measures are not implemented to bolster the index.

Discussion:

In December, the Florida inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was higher than the previous year’s average but underperformed the upward trend for the year. This is in contrast 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 Florida office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Hialeah, Tallahassee, Fort Lauderdale, Port St. Lucie, Cape Coral, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, Gainesville, Coral Springs, Clearwater, Palm Bay, Miami Gardens, West Palm Beach and Lakeland.

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. 

Swanson Reed hosts daily free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/free-webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.