April 2026: 0.76% (F grade)
New Jersey inventionINDEX April 2026: 0.76% (F 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).
New Jersey inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months
| Month | inventionINDEX Score |
| April 2026 | 0.76% |
| Mar 26 | 0.93% |
| Feb 26 | 0.77% |
| Jan 26 | 0.71% |
| Dec 25 | 0.87% |
| Nov 25 | 0.85% |
| Oct 25 | 0.82% |
| Sep 25 | 0.94% |
| Aug 25 | 1.47% |
| Jul 25 | 0.98% |
| Jun 25 | 0.78% |
| May 25 | 0.90% |
| Apr 25 | 0.87% |
The April 2026 inventionINDEX score for New Jersey reflects a challenging period for the state’s innovation landscape, settling at 0.76 percent with an F rating. This performance marks a regression from the marginal improvement seen in March 2026 and continues a troubling trend that has characterized the start of the year. When compared to the historical data, this score resides near the lower bounds of the state’s performance, only slightly outperforming the five-year low of 0.68 percent recorded in November 2024. The current trajectory suggests a period of significant contraction in the state’s inventive output as it struggles to regain the momentum lost after the third quarter of 2025.
Looking back across the sixty-month landscape, the index reveals a narrative of occasional brilliance amidst a generally subdued environment. The most striking outlier occurred in August 2025, where the score surged to 1.47 percent with an A+ rating, providing a brief glimpse of the state’s latent potential. Prior to 2024, the index more frequently sustained ratings in the B and C categories, particularly during late 2021 and throughout 2022. However, the recent dominance of F and D ratings indicates that the moderate consistency seen in previous years has eroded, leaving the current 0.76 percent score well below the historical median for the region.
A higher grade on the inventionINDEX brings substantial benefits that extend well beyond mere statistics. Ratings in the A and B ranges serve as a testament to a robust ecosystem where research, development, and intellectual property filings are thriving. Such scores signal to investors and tech corporations that New Jersey is a primary destination for innovation, often leading to increased venture capital inflow and the creation of high-skill employment opportunities. These periods of high productivity foster a self-sustaining cycle of economic growth, where new patents and commercialized technologies solidify the state’s reputation as a leader in the competitive national marketplace.
Conversely, the persistence of low scores like the current F rating carries detrimental implications for the state’s long-term economic health. A low index score typically points toward a lack of commercializable innovation or a slowdown in the industries that drive patent production. This stagnation can lead to a loss of competitive standing, making it difficult to attract and retain the highly educated workforce necessary for future growth. Without a concerted effort to revitalize R&D investments and support local inventors, the state risks a prolonged period of technological inertia, which could further widen the gap between New Jersey and more innovative neighboring jurisdictions.
Discussion:
In April, the New Jersey inventionINDEX scored a negative sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average and underperformed the downward trend for the year. This is similar 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.
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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.
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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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