June 2025: 13.74% (A+ grade)

Wyoming inventionINDEX June 2025: 13.74% (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).

The June 2025 inventionINDEX score for Wyoming stands at 13.74%, marking a notable return to a mid-range performance after several months of extreme volatility. Compared to May’s 24.86%, this is a considerable drop, yet it still reflects a level of innovation activity that remains well above the national average. Wyoming’s performance over the past year has been anything but stable, swinging from a low of 1.02% in August 2024 to a staggering high of 51.89% in March 2025. June’s score can thus be seen as a recalibration-still promising, but far from the unsustainable peaks of earlier in the year.

This moderation in June may actually signal a more balanced and manageable innovation landscape. The massive spike in March, while impressive at 51.89%, could suggest a short-term surge-possibly from a patent cluster, major research breakthrough, or policy-driven initiative. However, such bursts often lack long-term infrastructure support. By contrast, June’s 13.74% suggests a more sustainable level of inventive output, especially when compared to similar periods like December 2024, which shared the same score. This consistency is critical for stakeholders looking for stable growth rather than unpredictable highs and lows.

A higher inventionINDEX score-particularly in months like March, May, and October-can carry substantial benefits for Wyoming. These surges often attract venture capital attention, incentivize startups to plant roots locally, and raise the state’s profile in federal innovation circles. It can also signal a thriving ecosystem of universities, labs, and industry partnerships. For policymakers and economic planners, such numbers suggest an opportune time to invest in infrastructure, workforce development, and intellectual property support mechanisms to further amplify impact.

However, rapid and repeated fluctuations such as those seen in Wyoming’s yearly trend also present risks. Investors and innovators may grow wary of inconsistency, especially if these spikes don’t translate into long-term job growth or commercial applications. Moreover, the dramatic fall from March’s 51.89% to June’s 13.74% could point to underlying structural weaknesses or over-reliance on isolated events. To ensure innovation translates into economic resilience, Wyoming must focus on smoothing these extremes, building a robust base of continuous, incremental innovation rather than depending solely on periodic breakthroughs.

Discussion:

In June, the Wyoming inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was lower than the previous year’s average and underperformed the upward trend for the year. This is similar to the prior 12 months, which experienced a considerable 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 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:
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