MISSISSIPPI INVENTIONINDEX | MAY 2025
May 2025: 0.77% (D- grade)
Mississippi inventionINDEX May 2025: 0.77% (D- 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 Mississippi inventionINDEX score for May 2025 stands at 0.77%, reflecting a modest performance in regional innovation output relative to the national trend. While this figure is unchanged from March and February of 2025, it does represent a slight decline from April’s 0.85% and a more pronounced drop from January’s peak at 1.10%. This fluctuation suggests that innovation momentum in the state has cooled slightly after a promising start to the year. However, the score remains above some of the lower-performing months from the previous year, such as December 2024 at 0.68%, indicating that Mississippi continues to maintain a level of consistency in innovation activity.
Looking at the broader 12-month window, the highest point came in November 2024 with a significant spike to 1.44%. This standout month likely correlates with either policy incentives, increased patent filings, or a surge in research funding. Mississippi’s ability to achieve scores above 1.0% in multiple months (July, October, November, and January) highlights the state’s potential when the right conditions align. These higher scores are typically associated with strong institutional support, effective university-industry collaborations, and strategic investment in intellectual property development.
A consistently higher inventionINDEX score is generally a positive indicator for a state’s economic health and innovation ecosystem. It can attract venture capital, federal grants, and tech-driven businesses looking for fertile ground to develop new ideas. It also signals that local universities and startups are generating potentially valuable intellectual property, which can lead to job creation and long-term economic resilience. For Mississippi, returning to or surpassing the 1.0% threshold on a more regular basis would position it more competitively against national peers and help solidify its reputation as a hub for emerging technologies.
On the other hand, a declining or stagnating inventionINDEX score raises concerns about innovation slowdowns, reduced patent activity, or barriers to commercialization. It may also reflect challenges in research funding, talent retention, or regulatory inefficiencies. If Mississippi’s current level of 0.77% were to persist or decline further, it could hinder the state’s ability to attract high-growth companies and might reflect systemic issues within the innovation pipeline. Therefore, it is essential for state policymakers and innovation leaders to closely monitor this index and respond proactively to ensure the state remains on a growth trajectory.
Discussion:
In May, the Mississippi inventionINDEX scored a negative 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 Mississippi office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Jackson, Gulfport, Southaven, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Meridian, Tupelo, Greenville, Olive Branch, and Horn Lake.
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.
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