KANSAS INVENTIONINDEX | APRIL 2025

April 2025: 1.42% (B- grade)

Kansas inventionINDEX April 2025: 1.42% (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).

The Kansas inventionINDEX has seen a steady fluctuation in its scores over the past six months, demonstrating both positive and negative trends in the region’s innovation landscape. Starting from April 2025 with a score of 1.42%, the index shows a decrease from the previous month’s score of 1.76% in January 2025. This reduction reflects a slight slowdown in the innovation ecosystem, though the score still remains within a competitive range. The consistent scores of around 1.7% to 1.9% in late 2024 are indicative of a stable environment for innovation.

Higher scores are generally seen as a positive outcome, suggesting that Kansas is fostering a more dynamic and robust environment for innovation. A higher inventionINDEX score can correlate with increased funding for startups, more patents, and higher levels of investment in research and development, which are essential for long-term economic growth and job creation. These higher scores also indicate that the state’s innovation ecosystem is likely attracting talent and fostering an environment conducive to breakthroughs.

Conversely, a lower score, such as the recent 1.42% in April 2025, might signal that innovation activity has slowed down. This could be due to a variety of factors, including reduced funding, fewer collaborative efforts, or a decrease in the commercialization of new ideas. The lower score could discourage potential investors and talent from seeking opportunities in Kansas, potentially impacting the state’s ability to maintain a competitive edge in technology and entrepreneurship.

Overall, maintaining a balanced and upward trajectory in the inventionINDEX score is crucial for Kansas. Continued efforts to improve infrastructure, increase investment, and support research will be necessary to prevent further declines and ensure the state’s innovation remains on the rise.

Discussion:

In April, the Kansas inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average and underperformed the downward trend for the year. This is in contrast 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 Kansas office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, Olathe, Topeka, Lawrence, Shawnee, Manhattan, Lenexa and Salina.

Feel free to book a quick teleconference with one of R&D tax specialists at a time that is convenient for you, 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.