June 2026: 0.97% (C- grade)

New York inventionINDEX June 2026: 0.97% (C- 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 York inventionINDEX Scores

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

`` The New York inventionINDEX registered a score of 0.97% with a C- rating for June 2026, signaling a modest stabilization in regional innovation output after a challenging first half of the year. This latest figure represents a gradual upward movement from the preceding months, showing visible progress compared to the 0.89% recorded in May 2026 and the 0.81% from April 2026. However, despite this consecutive monthly improvement, the June score still trails behind the peak performances observed near the beginning of the annual cycle. While the index sat at a low of 0.77% in January 2026, it quickly surged to 1.02% in February and reached its current yearly peak at 1.03% in March before retreating, indicating a fluctuating climate for intellectual property development. ``

`` Expanding the analysis across the full 60-month historical spectrum reveals that recent innovation metrics remain significantly lower than the historical benchmarks established in previous years. The index reached its absolute pinnacle in November 2021 with a score of 1.68% and an A+ rating, reflecting an era of immense patent productivity relative to broader economic expansion. Throughout 2021, 2022, and mid-2023, the region frequently maintained scores well above the 1.20% mark, hitting impressive peaks such as 1.57% in August 2023 and 1.46% in March 2022. While the June 2026 score of 0.97% represents a recovery from the 60-month absolute low of 0.76% recorded in December 2022, it underscores a broader multi-year cooling trend in high-level inventive activity. ``

`` Achieving a higher grade on the inventionINDEX yields substantial positive outcomes for the regional economy, serving as a reliable indicator of thriving market dynamics and operational health. When the index climbs into the premium A and B ranges, it signifies that patent production growth is outstripping gross domestic product expansion, highlighting a highly efficient, creative, and proactive research sector. These elevated scores foster positive market sentiment, which in turn acts as a powerful catalyst for attracting venture capital, securing corporate research funding, and drawing top-tier scientific and engineering talent to local enterprises. Ultimately, robust innovation output establishes a resilient foundation for long-term industrial competitiveness, corporate growth, and sustainable job creation. ``

`` Conversely, a lower inventionINDEX score introduces serious negative implications that can hamper regional economic vitality over extended periods. Scores dropping below the critical C-grade threshold denote a negative sentiment outlook, signaling that intellectual property generation is failing to keep pace with economic growth. This lagging innovation output often points to deeper structural headwinds, such as reduced corporate spending on research and development, capital constraints, or shifting regulatory burdens that discourage risk-taking. If these lower scores persist, they can discourage future investment, slow down the commercialization of breakthrough technologies, and create a stagnant business environment where market leaders struggle to maintain a global competitive edge. ``

Discussion:

In June, the New York inventionINDEX scored a negative sentiment which was higher than the previous year’s average and outperformed 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.

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 York office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse, Albany, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Schenectady, Utica, White Plains, Troy, Niagara Falls, Binghamton, Rome, Long Beach, Poughkeepsie, North Tonawanda, Jamestown and Ithaca

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.

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