April 2026: 1.08% (C grade)
Louisiana inventionINDEX April 2026: 1.08% (C 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).
Louisiana inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months
| Month | inventionINDEX Score |
| April 2026 | 1.08% |
| Mar 26 | 1.40% |
| Feb 26 | 1.13% |
| Jan 26 | 1.61% |
| Dec 25 | 1.40% |
| Nov 25 | 0.87% |
| Oct 25 | 1.34% |
| Sep 25 | 1.29% |
| Aug 25 | 1.29% |
| Jul 25 | 1.24% |
| Jun 25 | 1.45% |
| May 25 | 1.03% |
| Apr 25 | 1.29% |
The April 2026 Louisiana inventionINDEX score of 1.08 percent, resulting in a C rating, reflects a period of cooling compared to the more energetic start of the year. While January 2026 saw a robust peak at 1.61 percent with an A rating, the index has since struggled to maintain that momentum, dipping through February and March before arriving at its current position. When compared specifically to previous Aprils over the last five years, this current score is underwhelming. It trails behind the 1.29 percent recorded in 2025 and the 1.45 percent seen in 2024, though it remains marginally better than the 0.98 percent low point for the month observed in 2022.
Looking at the broader 60-month horizon, the Louisiana innovation landscape appears marked by significant volatility rather than steady progression. The current score of 1.08 percent sits well below the historical heights achieved in previous years, most notably the exceptional 3.45 percent A-plus rating in October 2023 and the 2.40 percent peak in October 2024. These periodic surges suggest that while the state is capable of world-class inventive output, it often faces difficulty sustaining those levels for long durations. Conversely, the current C rating is a safe distance from the historical floor of 0.82 percent experienced in both August 2022 and August 2024, indicating that the state is currently in a middling phase rather than a full-scale contraction.
A higher grade on the inventionINDEX, such as the A or B ratings seen frequently in 2024 and late 2025, translates to tangible economic advantages for the region. High scores typically signal a surge in patent applications, increased research and development spending, and a more attractive environment for venture capital. When Louisiana hits these marks, it demonstrates a competitive edge in emerging technologies and industrial improvements. This fosters a culture of high-value job creation and entrepreneurship, positioning the state as a leader in regional innovation and providing a shield against broader economic downturns through the diversification of its industrial base.
On the other hand, a lower score or a persistent C rating like the one currently observed carries negative implications for the state’s long-term growth. Lower grades often reflect a stagnation in intellectual property development or a lack of institutional support for new ideas. If the score continues to slide toward the D-plus range seen in previous troughs, it may indicate that talent is migrating to more innovative hubs or that local businesses are focusing on maintenance rather than evolution. Such a trend risks leaving Louisiana behind in an increasingly tech-driven global economy, making it vital for stakeholders to analyze these dips and reinvest in the creative infrastructure necessary to drive the index back toward its previous peaks.
Discussion:
In April, the Louisiana inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average and underperformed the upward trend for the year. This is similar to the prior 12 months, which experienced an 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 Louisiana office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Kenner, Bossier City, Monroe, Alexandria and Houma.
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.
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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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