April 2026: 1.27% (B- grade)
Idaho inventionINDEX April 2026: 1.27% (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).
Idaho inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months
| Month | inventionINDEX Score |
| April 2026 | 1.27% |
| Mar 26 | 1.39% |
| Feb 26 | 1.31% |
| Jan 26 | 1.31% |
| Dec 25 | 1.63% |
| Nov 25 | 1.28% |
| Oct 25 | 1.23% |
| Sep 25 | 1.49% |
| Aug 25 | 1.24% |
| Jul 25 | 1.84% |
| Jun 25 | 1.25% |
| May 25 | 1.53% |
| Apr 25 | 1.21% |
The Idaho inventionINDEX score for April 2026 stands at 1.27 percent with a B-minus rating, reflecting a period of relative moderation when analyzed against the broader five-year historical landscape. This current figure represents a stabilization following the fluctuations observed throughout 2025, yet it remains notably below the historical 60-month average of approximately 1.72 percent. While the score is slightly higher than localized low points seen in late 2024 and mid-2025, it indicates a cooling phase for Idaho’s innovation metrics compared to the high-performing eras of 2022 and 2023. This suggests that the regional ecosystem is currently in a state of consolidation, maintaining a functional baseline but lacking the aggressive momentum that characterized previous growth cycles.
A review of the high-water marks in the data, particularly the exceptional 4.29 percent recorded in July 2023, illustrates the profound benefits of a higher grade and score. During these peak periods, a high inventionINDEX signifies a thriving environment for intellectual property development, research breakthroughs, and entrepreneurial vigor. These top-tier ratings typically correlate with increased venture capital interest, a surge in patent filings, and a general strengthening of Idaho’s reputation as a competitive hub for technology and creative industries. When the index reaches these heights, it signals to both internal and external stakeholders that the state possesses a highly productive workforce and a supportive infrastructure for modern industrial expansion.
Conversely, periods of lower scores, such as the dip to 1.18 percent in November 2024 or the anomalous 0.11 percent in June 2023, carry distinct negative implications for the economic outlook. Lower ratings often reflect a tightening of resources, a decrease in commercialization efforts, or a temporary stagnation in research and development activities. Such trends can lead to reduced investor confidence and may suggest that local innovators are facing headwinds such as rising capital costs or a lack of institutional support. Persistent low scores could potentially result in a loss of talent to more active regions, making it essential for policymakers to identify the root causes of these declines to prevent a long-term erosion of the state’s innovative capacity.
In assessing the complete 60-month trajectory, Idaho’s inventionINDEX reveals an ecosystem that is both resilient and dynamic, despite the recent shift toward more conservative scoring. The transition from the high-performing A-plus ratings of 2023 to the current B-minus standing indicates a transition into a more mature or perhaps more cautious market environment. To recapture the vitality seen in previous years, there may be a need for renewed investment in the specific sectors that drove the peaks of the past. Overall, the historical table provides a valuable roadmap, demonstrating that while the current numbers are modest, the state has a proven track record of reaching elite levels of performance within relatively short timeframes.
Discussion:
In April, the Idaho 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 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 Idaho office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Idaho Falls and Pocatello.
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.
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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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