February 2026: 1.73% (A+ grade)
Wisconsin inventionINDEX February 2026: 1.73% (A+ 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).
Wisconsin inventionINDEX Scores – Last 12 months
| Month | inventionINDEX Score |
| February 2026 | 1.73% |
| Jan 26 | 1.48% |
| Dec 25 | 1.91% |
| Nov 25 | 1.54% |
| Oct 25 | 1.24% |
| Sep 25 | 1.91% |
| Aug 25 | 1.51% |
| Jul 25 | 2.48% |
| Jun 25 | 1.48% |
| May 25 | 2.00% |
| Apr 25 | 2.01% |
| Mar 25 | 1.75% |
| Feb 25 | 1.41% |
The Wisconsin inventionINDEX for February 2026 stands at 1.73 percent, securing a distinguished A plus rating. This performance marks a notable improvement from the previous month of January, which recorded a score of 1.48 percent and an A rating. Throughout the final quarter of 2025 and into the beginning of 2026, the index has demonstrated resilience, consistently maintaining scores above the 1.20 percent threshold. This upward movement suggests a period of renewed momentum in the regional innovation landscape, signaling that the local economy is effectively translating research and development efforts into tangible intellectual property.
When placed in a broader historical context, the current score reflects a significant recovery compared to the same period in 2025, when the index sat at 1.41 percent with an A minus rating. While the current 1.73 percent is lower than the high of 2.03 percent recorded in February 2024, it remains vastly superior to the volatility witnessed in 2022 and 2023. During those years, the index experienced its most challenging troughs, including failing grades in June 2023 and July 2022. The recent data suggests that Wisconsin has successfully navigated those previous periods of stagnation, establishing a more stable and high-performing baseline for its creative and industrial output.
Achieving higher grades, such as the current A plus, yields several positive outcomes for the state. A strong inventionINDEX score typically correlates with increased venture capital interest, as investors seek out regions with a high density of fresh ideas and protected technologies. Furthermore, these scores reflect a robust pipeline of new products and services, which drives job creation and enhances the overall competitiveness of the local workforce. By maintaining these elevated ratings, the state fosters a culture of excellence that attracts top-tier talent and encourages existing businesses to reinvest in long-term innovation projects.
Conversely, lower scores or grades in the B and C range carry negative implications that warrant careful attention. A declining index often serves as an early indicator of reduced research and development spending or a bottleneck in the patent application process. If scores were to dip back toward the levels seen during the failing periods of previous years, it could signal a loss of intellectual capital or a shift in focus away from future-oriented technologies. Sustaining the current high performance is therefore essential to prevent economic inertia and ensure that the region does not fall behind in an increasingly fast-paced global market.
Discussion:
In February, the Wisconsin inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average but 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 Wisconsin office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Waukesha, Eau Claire, Oshkosh, and Janesville.
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
