KANSAS INVENTIONINDEX | MAY 2025

May 2025: 1.50% (B- grade)

Kansas inventionINDEX May 2025: 1.50% (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).

Over the past 12 months, the inventionINDEX Score for Kansas has shown a pattern of modest fluctuations, with May 2025 registering a value of 1.50%. This most recent figure represents a slight increase from April’s 1.42%, indicating a mild upward shift in innovation performance. Compared to the same period last year, where May 2024 stood at 1.66%, the current score is marginally lower. However, the difference is not severe, suggesting that Kansas has maintained a relatively stable innovation climate year-over-year, though not without variation.

Looking at the broader trend, the highest score over the last 12 months occurred in October 2024 at 1.98%, followed by February 2025 with 1.90% and November 2024 at 1.87%. These peaks suggest periods of heightened patenting activity or improved R&D productivity, possibly tied to local industry growth or targeted innovation incentives. In contrast, the lowest score was recorded in September 2024, at just 1.13%, reflecting a temporary dip that may have been influenced by seasonal slowdowns or economic uncertainty. May 2025’s score, while not among the highest, is firmly in the middle range, which indicates moderate but positive momentum.

A higher inventionINDEX Score generally reflects an environment conducive to innovation, signaling stronger patent filings, robust research initiatives, and a competitive edge for local institutions and businesses. Such scores can attract investment, talent, and partnership opportunities, all of which are critical to long-term economic development. For policymakers and business leaders, sustained or rising scores validate the effectiveness of current innovation strategies and provide leverage for securing additional funding or support.

On the other hand, lower scores—such as those seen in September 2024 and March 2025—could imply challenges in the innovation pipeline, whether due to funding constraints, regulatory bottlenecks, or a talent shortfall. Persistent low values may erode confidence among stakeholders and weaken the state’s positioning in national or regional innovation rankings. For Kansas, the current score of 1.50% suggests neither an urgent cause for concern nor a moment of celebration, but rather a signal to continue monitoring trends closely and investing in areas with growth potential.

Discussion:

In May, 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 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 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 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.