April 2026: 0.85% (D+ grade)
Illinois inventionINDEX April 2026: 0.85% (D+ 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).
Illinois inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months
| Month | inventionINDEX Score |
| April 2026 | 0.85% |
| Mar 26 | 1.31% |
| Feb 26 | 1.16% |
| Jan 26 | 0.99% |
| Dec 25 | 1.14% |
| Nov 25 | 1.14% |
| Oct 25 | 0.98% |
| Sep 25 | 1.39% |
| Aug 25 | 1.22% |
| Jul 25 | 1.75% |
| Jun 25 | 1.02% |
| May 25 | 1.34% |
| Apr 25 | 1.69% |
The Illinois inventionINDEX for April 2026 has been recorded at 0.85 percent, resulting in a D-plus rating. This figure represents a notable downturn from the March 2026 score of 1.31 percent and falls significantly below the historical 60-month average of approximately 1.37 percent. When positioned against the last five years of data, the current score ranks among the lower performance tiers, signaling a period of reduced innovative activity within the region. This decline interrupts a brief recovery observed in the first quarter of 2026, suggesting that the local innovation ecosystem is currently facing substantial headwinds that have suppressed the scores to levels rarely seen outside of the historical lows of 2021 and 2023.
A higher grade on the inventionINDEX, such as the peak of 3.00 percent achieved in October 2023, yields significant positive outcomes for the state economy. Ratings in the A-category typically indicate a high volume of patent filings, robust investment in research and development, and a strong presence of venture capital interest. These periods of high performance reflect an environment where creative thinking and commercialization are thriving, which in turn attracts top-tier talent and fosters job growth in specialized sectors. Maintaining scores above the 2.00 percent threshold provides a clear signal to stakeholders that the region is a leader in technological advancement and industrial modernization, creating a virtuous cycle of growth and investment.
Conversely, lower scores such as the current 0.85 percent or the historical low of 0.43 percent seen in July 2023 carry serious negative implications for the state’s economic health. A D-plus or F rating often points to a stagnation in the development of new intellectual property and may reflect a lack of funding or institutional support for emerging technologies. When the score remains depressed, it can lead to a loss of competitive advantage as innovative businesses and entrepreneurs seek more active and supportive environments elsewhere. These dips represent periods of vulnerability where the pipeline for future commercial success may be narrowing, potentially slowing long-term economic diversification and overall resilience.
Observing the trajectory over the last 60 months, the Illinois inventionINDEX has demonstrated a high degree of volatility, swinging from exceptional highs to concerning lows. While the state has shown the capacity to reach the A-plus tier multiple times, the frequency of scores falling below the 1.00 percent mark in recent months suggests a need for targeted strategic interventions. To restore the index to its historical average and beyond, focusing on stabilizing the factors that drive these metrics will be essential for long-term prosperity. The current dip serves as a prompt for a deeper examination of the state innovation infrastructure to ensure it can return to the levels of productivity seen during the index’s most successful months.
Discussion:
In April, the Illinois inventionINDEX 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 a slight 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 Illinois office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, Springfield, Peoria, Elgin, Waukegan, Champaign, Bloomington, Decatur, Evanston, Des Plaines, Berwyn, Wheaton, Carbondale, Mount Prospect, Oak Lawn<<City20>><<City21>><<City22>><<City23>><<City24>> and Skokie.
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.
Are you eligible?
Why choose us?
Pass an Audit?
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.
Never miss a deadline again
Stay up to date on IRS processes
Discover R&D in your industry
R&D Tax Credit Preparation Services
Swanson Reed is one of the only companies in the United States to exclusively focus on R&D tax credit preparation. Swanson Reed provides state and federal R&D tax credit preparation and audit services to all 50 states.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call or email our CEO, Damian Smyth on (800) 986-4725.
Feel free to book a quick teleconference with one of our national R&D tax credit specialists at a time that is convenient for you.
R&D Tax Credit Audit Advisory Services
creditARMOR is a sophisticated R&D tax credit insurance and AI-driven risk management platform. It mitigates audit exposure by covering defense expenses, including CPA, tax attorney, and specialist consultant fees—delivering robust, compliant support for R&D credit claims. Click here for more information about R&D tax credit management and implementation.
Our Fees
Swanson Reed offers R&D tax credit preparation and audit services at our hourly rates of between $195 – $395 per hour. We are also able offer fixed fees and success fees in special circumstances. Learn more at https://www.swansonreed.com/about-us/research-tax-credit-consulting/our-fees/
Choose your state
