FLORIDA INVENTIONINDEX | NOVEMBER 2025

November 2025: 3.38% (A+ grade)

Florida inventionINDEX November 2025: 3.38% (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 current inventionINDEX Score for November 2025 stands at 3.38, securing a consistent A+ rating. This performance is slightly below the long-term historical average of approximately 3.98 and the median score of 3.78 recorded over the past 60 months. The index has shown remarkable stability, with the majority of scores clustering around the mid-three to low-five percent range, frequently resulting in A+ ratings. Performance has varied, ranging from an exceptional peak of 11.18 in October 2023 to a low of 1.94 in January 2021, which resulted in a B- rating. Relative to the historical baseline, the current score represents a solid, stable performance, successfully maintaining the desired top-tier grade through the end of the measured period.

The consistent achievement of an A or A+ rating on the inventionINDEX signifies profound positive outcomes for the ecosystem it measures. A perpetually high grade indicates a robust and dynamic environment that is highly conducive to intellectual property creation and commercialization. These superior ratings serve as a critical confidence signal to both domestic and international investors, suggesting lower risk, stronger protective mechanisms, and higher potential for innovation-driven returns. Furthermore, a top-tier rating helps attract and retain high-skilled talent, providing a quantifiable metric that reinforces the narrative of technological leadership and sustained economic competitiveness. These high scores fundamentally validate the effectiveness of current policies and the infrastructure supporting invention health.

Conversely, any sustained dip in the inventionINDEX Score, such as the 1.94 low recorded in January 2021, brings significant negative implications, often leading to lower B or B- grades. A low score suggests a potential slowdown in the pace of innovation or a tangible weakening in the quality or quantity of new intellectual property being generated. This stagnation can swiftly translate into a loss of competitive advantage against rival jurisdictions, signaling to global capital markets that the growth trajectory may be decelerating. Lower grades may also reflect underlying systemic issues, such as insufficient funding for research and development, a complex or cumbersome regulatory environment, or a critical lack of commercialization support, all of which necessitate immediate and detailed policy review to mitigate future decline.

In summary, the last five years of data strongly demonstrate a prevailing strength in the measured invention landscape, characterized by a dominant A+ rating and an average score near 4%. While the current score is moderately below this long-term average, it is comfortably within the threshold for a top rating, signaling ongoing health in the ecosystem. The analysis underscores that the inventionINDEX is not merely a statistical measure but a vital barometer of economic health and future potential. It is essential to maintain scores above the long-term median and to understand the contributing factors behind the occasional performance peaks and valleys to ensure the ecosystem’s resilience and secure its position as a leading hub for technological advancement and intellectual property generation.

Discussion:

In November, the Florida inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average and underperformed the upward trend for the year. This is in contrast to the prior 12 months, which experienced a slight 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.