OREGON INVENTIONINDEX | MAY 2025
May 2025: 1.63% (B- grade)
Oregon inventionINDEX May 2025: 1.63% (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 May 2025 inventionINDEX score for Oregon stands at 1.63%, marking a slight decrease from the previous month’s 2.65% and placing it below the 12-month average. This score also falls short compared to May 2024, which reported 1.91%, indicating a year-over-year decline. Over the past year, Oregon’s inventionINDEX has shown notable fluctuations, with highs such as 2.90% in July 2024 and lows like 1.03% in November 2024. The current month’s score suggests a modest level of inventive activity, slightly subdued when compared to some of the more dynamic periods observed in late 2024 and early 2025.
A higher inventionINDEX score typically signals increased patenting activity, innovation output, and research commercialization—factors that can bolster Oregon’s competitiveness in emerging tech sectors. For instance, the spikes seen in July 2024 and April 2025 likely coincided with key policy or funding developments that stimulated R&D efforts. Such high scores are often reflective of vibrant ecosystems where universities, startups, and industry collaborate effectively, leading to economic growth, job creation, and stronger intellectual property portfolios.
Conversely, a lower score, like the current 1.63%, may imply a temporary slowdown in new patent filings or technological advancement. This could stem from a variety of causes, including seasonal lulls, regulatory uncertainty, or reduced funding. Persistent low scores could dampen investor confidence and signal that the pipeline of innovation is not being sufficiently replenished. Moreover, if neighboring states or national benchmarks show stronger trends, Oregon risks falling behind in innovation-driven competitiveness.
To sustain and grow its inventionINDEX, Oregon may benefit from continued investment in university research, targeted support for early-stage ventures, and streamlined patent facilitation programs. While the May 2025 score suggests room for improvement, it remains within a historically stable range. Ensuring alignment between policy and innovation goals will be key to fostering a climate that can regularly produce scores in the upper tier of the past year’s performance.
Discussion:
In May, the Oregon inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average and 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 Oregon office provides R&D tax credit consulting and advisory services to Portland, Eugene, Salem, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Bend, Medford, Springfield, and Corvallis.
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:
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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.
