WYOMING INVENTIONINDEX | MAY 2025
May 2025: 24.86% (A+ grade)
Wyoming inventionINDEX May 2025: 24.86% (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 latest inventionINDEX Score for May 2025 stands at 24.86%, reflecting a notable rise from April 2025’s figure of 12.15%. This increase marks a rebound in innovative activity across Wyoming, bringing the index closer to the higher levels seen in March 2025, which had spiked at 51.89%. Though not matching that peak, the current score represents the second-highest level in the last six months, signaling an encouraging uptick in intellectual property generation, patent filings, or innovation-related commercial activity. It suggests that the state’s inventors and research institutions may be regaining momentum after a period of relative dormancy.
Historically, the last 12 months have shown considerable volatility in the inventionINDEX, with wide swings such as the jump from August 2024’s 1.02% to October 2024’s 35.99%. May 2025’s score outpaces the 12-month average and even surpasses May 2024’s 21.69%, reinforcing a year-over-year improvement. The inconsistency in the monthly scores implies that innovation activity in Wyoming is responsive to external factors—possibly funding cycles, academic calendars, or seasonal business investments—making it crucial for stakeholders to identify and sustain the catalysts behind high-performing months.
A higher inventionINDEX score carries several positive implications for the region. It often correlates with increased entrepreneurial activity, stronger engagement from universities or research centers, and heightened interest from investors seeking innovation-driven opportunities. This momentum can contribute to job creation, stimulate local economies, and enhance Wyoming’s national profile as a hub for technological advancement. Additionally, consistently strong scores can attract federal grants, private sector partnerships, and expanded support from venture capital networks.
Conversely, low scores such as those recorded in August 2024 (1.02%) or April 2025 (12.15%) highlight periods of reduced innovation engagement, which could result in missed opportunities for funding, diminished competitiveness, and a potential talent drain. Persistent dips may discourage inventors or small businesses, creating a cycle that further hampers progress. Maintaining a stable or upward-trending inventionINDEX is therefore vital not only as a marker of innovative health but also as a signal to investors, policymakers, and educators that the local ecosystem is worth continued support and investment.
Discussion:
In May, the Wyoming inventionINDEX scored a positive sentiment which was higher than the previous year’s average but 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:
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.
