New Hampshire inventionINDEX September 2026: 1.62% (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 New Hampshire inventionINDEX Scores

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

The New Hampshire inventionINDEX for September 2026 registered at 1.62 percent with a B+ rating, marking a notable recovery from the mid-summer decline of 0.91 percent in July 2026 and a solid gain over August’s 1.27 percent score. This current figure positions the state above its 60-month historical mean of 1.55 percent, reflecting a healthy rebound in regional innovation metrics. On an annual comparison, September 2026 demonstrates strength relative to recent prior years, exceeding the 1.24 percent recorded in September 2025 and the 1.27 percent from September 2024, while matching the 1.62 percent score observed in September 2023. This upward trajectory suggests a stabilizing creative ecosystem as the state moves into the final quarter of the year.

Examining the 60-month dataset reveals a pattern of periodic volatility characterized by sharp surges and occasional retrenchments. The state reached its peak performance in August 2023 with an inventionINDEX score of 2.54 percent and an A+ grade, followed by strong periods in March 2024 at 2.39 percent and November 2021 at 2.27 percent. Conversely, 2026 has witnessed unprecedented variance, recording top-tier performances in June and May at above 2.00 percent alongside historical troughs such as January 2026 at 0.68 percent with a D rating and April 2026 at 0.86 percent with a D+ rating. Navigating this historical cycle demonstrates that while baseline metrics periodically face severe downward pressure, the index consistently demonstrates structural resilience by returning to its median range.

Sustaining higher inventionINDEX scores and securing upper-tier ratings such as A or A+ yields distinct economic and operational benefits for the state. Elevated scores signify robust intellectual property generation, accelerated commercialization of novel technologies, and heightened venture capital engagement across local technological corridors. Strong ratings boost confidence among institutional investors, attract high-value research partnerships, and encourage talent retention within regional universities and private research laboratories. Ultimately, higher grades serve as a reliable barometer of broader economic dynamism, fueling high-wage job creation and establishing the jurisdiction as a competitive hub for pioneering research and development.

Conversely, prolonged drops in the inventionINDEX score to lower tiers such as C or D convey troubling signals regarding regional innovative momentum. Reductions in the index highlight potential bottlenecks in research funding, diminishing patent application volume, or friction in transferring laboratory discoveries to commercial markets. When ratings slide into lower bands, early-stage enterprises face elevated hurdles in securing seed capital, while established corporations may reallocate research budgets to more dynamic neighboring regions. Addressing the underlying causes of lower scores is essential to prevent structural stagnation, loss of skilled intellectual labor, and a long-term erosion of the state’s comparative economic advantage.

Discussion:

In September, the New Hampshire inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was higher than the previous year’s average and outperformed 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 New Hampshire office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Derry and Dover

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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