April 2026: 2.49% (A+ grade)
Montana inventionINDEX April 2026: 2.49% (A+ 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).
Montana inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months
| Month | inventionINDEX Score |
| April 2026 | 2.49% |
| Mar 26 | 3.18% |
| Feb 26 | 4.31% |
| Jan 26 | 2.95% |
| Dec 25 | 5.22% |
| Nov 25 | 2.95% |
| Oct 25 | 2.49% |
| Sep 25 | 3.18% |
| Aug 25 | 4.54% |
| Jul 25 | 2.72% |
| Jun 25 | 2.27% |
| May 25 | 8.17% |
| Apr 25 | 4.31% |
The Montana inventionINDEX for April 2026 stands at 2.49%, securing an A+ rating. This current performance, while maintaining a high grade, reflects a decline from the more robust 4.31% seen in February 2026 and sits below the five-year average of approximately 4.87%. Historically, the index has demonstrated significant range, reaching a peak of 11.13% in November 2022. Despite the recent cooling, the current score represents a significant improvement over the 2021 period, which saw a notable low of 0.68% and a “D” rating in July of that year.
A higher grade on the inventionINDEX is indicative of a vibrant and healthy economic environment. These scores correlate with strong intellectual property activity, which often leads to the creation of high-paying jobs and the expansion of the state’s industrial base. When Montana consistently achieves an A+ rating, it sends a clear signal to investors and corporations that the state provides a fertile ground for new ideas and technological breakthroughs. This reputation is critical for securing the external capital needed to scale local businesses and for encouraging the commercialization of academic research.
On the other hand, a decrease in the score or a move to a lower grade can have detrimental effects on the state’s economic outlook. Lower scores typically point toward a stagnation in creative output or a lack of investment in emerging technologies. This can lead to a loss of competitiveness relative to other states and may result in the migration of high-skilled workers to regions with more dynamic innovation sectors. A sustained period of lower scores might also discourage future investment, as the perceived risk for new ventures increases when the overall innovation environment appears less active.
Looking forward, the stability of the A+ rating even during periods of score fluctuation is an encouraging sign for Montana’s innovation ecosystem. While the April 2026 score of 2.49% is more conservative than the double-digit highs seen in previous years, it remains a testament to the state’s progress since the lows of early 2021. By continuing to foster an environment that supports invention and development, Montana can work toward returning to the higher percentage scores that have characterized its most successful periods of growth.
Discussion:
In April, the Montana inventionINDEX scored a positive 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 considerable 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 Montana office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, and Butte.
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.
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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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