Wyoming inventionINDEX September 2026: 23.27% (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 Wyoming inventionINDEX Scores

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

The recent Wyoming inventionINDEX score of 23.27% for September 2026 reflects sustained high performance when compared against the past five years of historical data. The index has demonstrated substantial growth over the 60-month span, evolving from single-digit averages in late 2021 and 2022 to consistently elevated levels above 20% throughout 2025 and 2026. While the current 23.27% mark is lower than the notable surge of 39.17% recorded in June 2026, it remains comfortably above the overall 60-month historical average of 15.64%. This multi-year trajectory shows that Wyoming has fundamentally expanded its baseline productivity, moving away from the sluggish performance observed early in the decade.

A deeper inspection of the 60-month historical trend reveals significant milestones along with notable past fluctuations. The index reached its absolute peak of 51.89% in March 2025, a landmark period of innovation activity that set the benchmark for the entire dataset. Conversely, the historical minimum occurred in July 2022 at -8.52%, which resulted in the dataset’s sole F rating. Lower ratings were occasionally recorded in earlier years, such as C grades in September 2021, January 2022, April 2023, and August 2024, as well as a B+ in June 2023. Since late 2024, however, the index has achieved a steady streak of top-tier A+ ratings, signaling greater structural resilience.

Consistently securing a high score and an A+ rating delivers significant economic and strategic benefits. Strong performance signals a thriving intellectual property ecosystem, which instills confidence in venture capital firms, corporate partners, and institutional investors. Higher scores correlate with robust commercialization pathways, increased patent generation, and expanded technology transfer initiatives. Furthermore, maintaining top-tier ratings enhances regional competitiveness, making Wyoming an attractive hub for tech entrepreneurs, specialized research talent, and high-growth startups seeking a supportive environment.

On the other hand, sustained drops in the index score or downgrades to lower letter grades present serious economic risks. Severe contractions, such as the negative performance in July 2022 or the brief dips into C territory, signal periods where innovation output stalls, funding contracts, or market barriers increase. A declining score can deter foreign direct investment, slow down the commercialization of new technologies, and signal broader macroeconomic friction within the regional innovation pipeline. Recognizing these risks underscores the importance of maintaining supportive policy frameworks and continuous investment in technological infrastructure.

Discussion:

In September, the Wyoming inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was higher than the previous year’s average but underperformed the upward trend for the year. This is in contrast to the prior 12 months, which experienced a considerable 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 Wyoming office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Gillette and Rock Springs

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.