June 2026: 2.44% (A+ grade)

Wisconsin inventionINDEX June 2026: 2.44% (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).

Historical Wisconsin inventionINDEX Scores

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

The latest Wisconsin inventionINDEX score for June 2026 stands at 2.44% with an A+ rating, reflecting a strong and competitive position when compared against the historical data from the past five years. This current figure significantly outperforms the historical average of approximately 1.66% calculated across the entire 61-month dataset. While it does not quite reach the historical peak of 3.69% achieved in May 2023, the June 2026 score represents a robust expansion of inventive activity. This positive standing is particularly impressive given the historical lows observed in July 2022 and June 2023, when the index dropped to -0.56% and -0.53% respectively, resulting in F ratings.

Examining the long-term trends reveals that the index has experienced notable cycles of volatility before stabilizing at its current high level. Throughout 2024 and 2025, the scores frequently fluctuated between moderate B grades and excellent A+ ratings, establishing a baseline of resilience. The first half of 2026 highlights this upward momentum, with the index remaining consistently strong aside from a brief drop to 1.38% in April. Comparing recent months to the more turbulent periods of 2022 and 2023 demonstrates that the local innovation ecosystem has matured and achieved a more reliable cadence of growth, moving away from the sharp contractions that previously hampered progress.

Securing a higher grade and a strong percentage score yields numerous positive outcomes for the regional economy. High ratings like the current A+ signify a fertile environment for research and development, robust patenting activity, and progressive technological advancements. This strong performance enhances investor confidence, making the region a magnet for venture capital and strategic corporate partnerships. Additionally, elevated scores indicate that local businesses and academic institutions are successfully generating valuable intellectual property, which serves as a catalyst for new business formation, job creation, and sustainable economic competitiveness.

On the other hand, a lower score or a declining grade carries serious negative implications for long-term growth. When the index drops significantly or falls into negative territory, as seen during the occasional historical downturns, it indicates a bottleneck or contraction in innovation output. This decline can erode stakeholder confidence, leading to reduced funding for critical research initiatives and a potential loss of highly skilled talent to other markets. A persistently low score means fewer breakthroughs are being commercialized, which ultimately weakens the economic foundation, slows industrial modernization, and diminishes the region’s competitive edge.

Discussion:

In June, the Wisconsin inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was higher than the previous year’s average and outperformed the downward trend for the year. This is in contrast to the prior 12 months, which experienced an 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 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.