April 2026: 1.55% (B- grade)
Kansas inventionINDEX April 2026: 1.55% (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).
Kansas inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months
| Month | inventionINDEX Score |
| April 2026 | 1.55% |
| Mar 26 | 1.23% |
| Feb 26 | 1.39% |
| Jan 26 | 1.42% |
| Dec 25 | 1.71% |
| Nov 25 | 1.82% |
| Oct 25 | 1.68% |
| Sep 25 | 1.74% |
| Aug 25 | 1.26% |
| Jul 25 | 1.66% |
| Jun 25 | 1.53% |
| May 25 | 1.50% |
| Apr 25 | 1.42% |
The Kansas inventionINDEX for April 2026 stands at 1.55 percent with a B-minus rating. This score represents a rebound from the March 2026 dip of 1.23 percent. When analyzed against the 60-month history, the current figure remains within a stable median range, though it sits below the peak periods observed in late 2023. This upward movement from the previous month suggests a recovery in localized innovation activity after a brief cooling period in the first quarter of the year.
Achieving a higher grade, such as the A rating recorded in October 2023 at 2.32 percent, yields significant advantages for the regional economy. High scores typically signal a robust pipeline of new intellectual property and a high degree of research and development productivity. These peak performance windows often attract outside capital and encourage business expansion within the state. A strong inventionINDEX rating fosters an environment where breakthrough ideas are efficiently commercialized, which in turn drives high-quality job growth and establishes the state as a competitive leader in the industrial landscape.
Conversely, a lower score like the 1.05 percent seen in December 2021 or the 1.13 percent in September 2024 carries negative connotations for the innovative health of the state. Ratings in the C category suggest a slowdown in the creation of new technologies or a lack of support for entrepreneurial ventures. When the index remains low, it indicates that the state may be losing its competitive edge to other regions that are more aggressively fostering innovation. Such stagnation can lead to a reduction in investor interest and a potential brain drain as creative talent moves to areas with higher growth potential.
Looking at the full 60-month trajectory, the Kansas inventionINDEX reveals an ecosystem characterized by moderate volatility but consistent resilience. While the current 1.55 percent score shows progress compared to earlier in the year, there is still ample room to reach the elite levels seen during the summer of 2023. Maintaining an upward trend will require continued investment in the specific sectors that drive these metrics. Overall, the historical data underscores that while fluctuations are common, the long-term economic prosperity of the state is closely tied to its ability to sustain and increase its innovative output.
Discussion:
In April, the Kansas inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was higher than the previous year’s average and outperformed 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 Kansas office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, Olathe, Topeka, Lawrence, Shawnee, Manhattan, Lenexa, and Salina.
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.
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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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