April 2026: 1.16% (C+ grade)
Utah inventionINDEX April 2026: 1.16% (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).
Utah inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months
| Month | inventionINDEX Score |
| April 2026 | 1.16% |
| Mar 26 | 1.70% |
| Feb 26 | 1.34% |
| Jan 26 | 1.23% |
| Dec 25 | 1.63% |
| Nov 25 | 1.39% |
| Oct 25 | 1.31% |
| Sep 25 | 1.63% |
| Aug 25 | 1.56% |
| Jul 25 | 1.70% |
| Jun 25 | 1.20% |
| May 25 | 1.44% |
| Apr 25 | 1.66% |
The April 2026 inventionINDEX for Utah settled at 1.16 percent, resulting in a C+ rating. This performance marks a significant retreat from the 1.70 percent reported in March, which had earned an A- rating, suggesting a sharp month-over-month decline in innovative output. When viewed through the lens of early 2026, the index has exhibited notable volatility, fluctuating between the mid-1 percent range and the low-1 percent range within a single quarter. This current figure is also down compared to the same period in 2025, which sat at a more robust 1.66 percent, indicating that the state is currently navigating a period of reduced technological and creative momentum.
A broader review of the sixty-month historical data reveals that while the current score is underwhelming, it remains well above the five-year low of 0.57 percent recorded in April 2021. The state reached its zenith in November 2023 with a remarkable 2.89 percent score and an A+ rating, a figure that stands as a testament to Utah’s potential for high-intensity innovation. However, the recurring dips into the C-category, such as those seen in August 2024 and January 2022, suggest that the state’s innovation ecosystem occasionally struggles with consistency, often retreating from peak performance into periods of consolidation.
Achieving a higher grade on the inventionINDEX, specifically within the A or high B brackets, generates a variety of positive economic outcomes. These elevated scores serve as a beacon for venture capital firms and institutional investors looking for regions with high intellectual property yields. A strong rating typically reflects a surge in patent filings and successful product commercialization, which in turn fosters a competitive business environment. When the index performs at these levels, it reinforces Utah’s reputation as a burgeoning technology hub, encouraging the relocation of high-growth firms and the retention of a highly skilled local workforce.
Conversely, a move toward lower scores like the current C+ rating carries several negative implications for the state’s long-term standing. A lower index score often points toward a stagnation in research and development activities or a bottleneck in the pipeline moving from ideation to market. If such a trend persists, it may lead to a loss of creative talent to more aggressive regional competitors, potentially weakening the local tech ecosystem. Maintaining a trajectory toward higher ratings is essential to prevent such economic erosion and to ensure that the infrastructure supporting new inventions remains adequately funded and prioritized.
Discussion:
In April, the Utah inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average and underperformed the upward trend for the year. This is similar to the prior 12 months, which experienced a slight 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 Utah office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo, West Jordan, Orem, Sandy, Ogden, St George, Layton, and Taylorsville.
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.
Are you eligible?
Why choose us?
Pass an Audit?
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.
Never miss a deadline again
Stay up to date on IRS processes
Discover R&D in your industry
R&D Tax Credit Preparation Services
Swanson Reed is one of the only companies in the United States to exclusively focus on R&D tax credit preparation. Swanson Reed provides state and federal R&D tax credit preparation and audit services to all 50 states.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call or email our CEO, Damian Smyth on (800) 986-4725.
Feel free to book a quick teleconference with one of our national R&D tax credit specialists at a time that is convenient for you.
R&D Tax Credit Audit Advisory Services
creditARMOR is a sophisticated R&D tax credit insurance and AI-driven risk management platform. It mitigates audit exposure by covering defense expenses, including CPA, tax attorney, and specialist consultant fees—delivering robust, compliant support for R&D credit claims. Click here for more information about R&D tax credit management and implementation.
Our Fees
Swanson Reed offers R&D tax credit preparation and audit services at our hourly rates of between $195 – $395 per hour. We are also able offer fixed fees and success fees in special circumstances. Learn more at https://www.swansonreed.com/about-us/research-tax-credit-consulting/our-fees/
Choose your state
