Missouri inventionINDEX September 2026: 1.13% (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).

Historical Missouri inventionINDEX Scores

The Missouri inventionINDEX score for the past 12 months is shown in the table below.

The Missouri inventionINDEX recorded a score of 1.13% with a B+ rating in September 2026, demonstrating a meaningful recovery from the modest results observed in July (1.09%, B-) and August (1.07%, B-). While this performance falls short of the recent high of 1.36% (A+) achieved in May 2026, it aligns closely with the 60-month historical median of approximately 1.16%. When compared against September scores in prior years—such as September 2025 (1.19%, A-), September 2024 (1.07%, B-), and September 2023 (1.12%, B)—the September 2026 result represents a solid mid-to-upper tier standing. This upward movement from late-summer lows indicates a renewed acceleration in regional patent production relative to gross domestic product growth. Over the full 60-month timeframe spanning October 2021 through September 2026, Missouri has displayed clear economic elasticity, frequently rebounding from brief periods of contraction to sustain higher innovation tiers. The dataset highlights notable low points, including December 2022 when the score dropped to a 5-year low of 0.99% (C-), as well as April 2023 (1.00%, C) and January 2026 (1.03%, C). Conversely, the state regularly achieves top-tier ratings, hitting ceilings such as August 2022 (1.32%, A+), July 2025 (1.30%, A+), and March 2026 (1.28%, A+). Tracking these long-term shifts demonstrates that while economic fluctuations occasionally drag scores into C-range territory, Missouri consistently restores momentum back toward B+ and A-tier ratings within two to three quarters.Achieving higher grades on the inventionINDEX, specifically in the A and A+ ranges above 1.20%, yields substantial economic and strategic benefits for the state. High scores indicate that commercial patent generation is outpacing underlying economic growth, signaling a healthy and expanding research and development environment. Strong innovation performance attracts venture capital investment, incentivizes corporate expansion within state borders, and builds investor confidence. Furthermore, sustained high ratings encourage high-tech job creation, strengthen partnerships between academia and industry, and enhance Missouri’s competitive positioning across technological and industrial sectors. Conversely, persistent lower scores falling into the C range or below carry detrimental implications for regional economic health. A depressed score indicates that patent output is lagging behind GDP expansion, pointing to reduced R&D expenditure, corporate downsizing, or friction in bringing new ideas to market. Prolonged low performance can chill capital investment, suppress productivity gains, and trigger a talent drain as skilled researchers and engineering teams migrate toward more vibrant innovation ecosystems. If research activity remains muted over extended cycles, Missouri risks falling behind peer state economies in key advanced industries.

Discussion:

In September, the Missouri 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 Missouri office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Kansas City, St Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Independence, Lees Summit, Ofallon, St Joseph, St Charles and Blue Springs

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.