June 2026: 1.88% (B grade)

Oregon inventionINDEX June 2026: 1.88% (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 Oregon inventionINDEX Scores

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

The June 2026 Oregon inventionINDEX score recorded a solid rebound, reaching 1.88% with a commendable B rating. This performance marks a substantial recovery from the immediate preceding months of April and May 2026, which experienced notable contractions down to 0.93% and 0.87% respectively, both earning C- ratings. Looking back at historical June figures over the past five years reveals a cyclical pattern of innovation metrics. The current score perfectly matches the 1.88% recorded in June 2024 and exceeds the 1.60% observed in June 2025. However, it falls short of the higher benchmarks established in earlier years, such as June 2023 at 2.70%, June 2022 at 2.00%, and June 2021 at 2.51%, indicating that while short-term recovery is strong, there is still room to regain historical peaks.

When analyzed over a broader 60-month historical horizon, the June 2026 score of 1.88% sits slightly below the long-term average of approximately 1.99%. The historical timeline shows a period of extreme volatility and extraordinary growth spikes, most notably in October 2023, when the index surged to an unprecedented high of 7.06% with an A+ rating. Conversely, the index reached its lowest depth in January 2023, plummeting to -0.55% and receiving an F rating. Positioned within this historical spectrum, the current score reflects a stabilizing ecosystem that has successfully distanced itself from past recessions while steadily building back toward sustainable growth following the early 2026 slowdown.

Achieving a higher score and a superior grade, such as the A+ rating observed in March 2026 with a 2.73% score, yields numerous positive outcomes for the regional innovation landscape. High index ratings signal a robust and thriving ecosystem characterized by increased patent activity, heightened entrepreneurial engagement, and successful research development initiatives. These strong figures boost investor confidence, making the region a magnet for venture capital and top-tier technical talent. Furthermore, elevated innovation scores often correlate with long-term economic growth, job creation in high-tech sectors, and a strengthened competitive advantage in the broader marketplace.

Conversely, a lower score and depressed grades carry significant negative implications for economic and technological progress. When the index dips into the C or F range, as seen during the stagnation of late 2021 or the contraction in January 2023, it points to systemic bottlenecks such as reduced funding, regulatory hurdles, or a decline in creative output. Prolonged periods of low scores can dampen market enthusiasm, discourage potential investors, and stall commercialization pipelines. Over time, these downward trends risk creating a brain drain where skilled innovators relocate to more supportive environments, ultimately slowing down industrial modernization and limiting regional economic resilience.

Discussion:

In June, the Oregon inventionINDEX scored a positive 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 Oregon office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Portland, Eugene, Salem, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Bend, Medford, Springfield and Corvallis

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.