April 2026: 0.85% (D grade)

Mississippi 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).

Mississippi inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months

The April 2026 Mississippi inventionINDEX score of 0.85 percent, resulting in a D rating, suggests a state of inertia within the regional innovation ecosystem. When compared to the performance of previous years, the current score reflects a lack of significant forward motion. This 0.85 percent figure is an exact match for the score recorded in April 2025, yet it represents a step backward from the 0.93 percent achieved in March 2026. Most concerning is the comparison to the beginning of this 60-month cycle in April 2021, when the state boasted a much more robust 1.18 percent and a B rating. This long-term decline indicates that the state is currently struggling to recapture the inventive energy it possessed five years ago.

Viewing the data through a broader historical lens, the current D rating places Mississippi in a middling position relative to its own volatile history. The state has demonstrated an ability to reach impressive heights, such as the 1.60 percent A-plus peaks seen in May 2022 and October 2023. However, these successes have often been followed by sharp corrections, including several dips into the failing range, such as the 0.52 percent lows of October 2021 and June 2025. While the current 0.85 percent is comfortably above those historical floors, it remains significantly distanced from the A and B ranges that characterized the state’s most productive periods in late 2023 and late 2024.

A higher grade on the inventionINDEX, specifically moving into the B or A categories, offers transformative potential for the Mississippi economy. When the index rises, it typically signals a surge in intellectual property development, increased federal research grants, and a more aggressive approach to commercializing local breakthroughs. These higher scores serve as a vital recruitment tool, attracting tech-focused businesses and venture capital that might otherwise overlook the region. A robust innovation score suggests a shift toward a knowledge-based economy, fostering high-wage job creation and providing a more stable foundation for long-term prosperity.

In contrast, the negative implications of a sustained low score like the current 0.85 percent are noteworthy. A persistent D rating may indicate a bottleneck in the research and development pipeline or a lack of institutional support for independent inventors. If the index fails to climb, the state faces the risk of a brain drain, as its most creative and technically skilled residents may seek opportunities in more vibrant innovation hubs. Furthermore, a low score can lead to a more cautious investment climate, where local startups struggle to secure the necessary seed funding to move beyond the concept phase. Reversing this trend is essential to ensure Mississippi does not fall behind in an increasingly competitive national landscape.

Discussion:

In April, the Mississippi inventionINDEX scored a negative 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 Mississippi office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Jackson, Gulfport, Southaven, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Meridian, Tupelo, Greenville, Olive Branch, and Horn Lake.

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.