New Study Reveals the Most and Least Innovative States in America
Innovation fuels economic growth, attracts high-paying jobs, and determines which regions shape the future of technology, medicine, and business. But while some states operate at the cutting edge of patents, venture capital, and STEM talent, others struggle to build the infrastructure needed to compete. A new nationwide ranking highlights where innovation is accelerating — and where it’s falling behind.
Davies & Associates analyzed 48 U.S. states across eight key innovation metrics: patents per capita, venture capital investment relative to GDP, R&D spending, STEM workforce share, science and engineering degrees, new business applications, tech company density, and projected STEM job demand by 2030. Each metric was standardized and weighted to create a total innovation score, revealing which states have built sustainable ecosystems for long-term growth.
Top 10 Most Innovative States
California ranks first overall with a commanding score of 64.74. The state leads the nation in both patents (117.12 per 100,000 residents) and venture capital investment ($28,980 per $1 million GDP). Its projected STEM job demand by 2030 — nearly 1.19 million positions — is also the highest in the country. While its tech company share is surprisingly modest relative to its size, California’s unmatched scale in funding, patent production, and workforce growth keeps it firmly at the top.
Massachusetts takes second place, powered by a highly educated workforce and strong patent activity. It produces 110.69 patents per 100,000 residents (2nd nationally) and ranks 3rd for venture capital investment. More than 43% of graduates earn science and engineering degrees, and STEM professionals make up 4.3% of the workforce — reinforcing the state’s deep talent pipeline.
Washington ranks third and stands out for its workforce strength. STEM professionals account for 6.02% of total employment — the highest share in the nation. The state also performs strongly in patent output and venture capital funding, supported by solid R&D investment and over 221,000 projected STEM jobs by 2030.
Delaware and Colorado round out the top five with strong entrepreneurial ecosystems. Delaware ranks 2nd in venture capital relative to GDP and 2nd in new business applications per capita, while Colorado posts balanced results across patents, venture capital, STEM workforce share, and tech company density. Colorado’s projected STEM job growth of nearly 240,000 further cements its position.
The second half of the top ten reflects diverse innovation models. Vermont performs exceptionally well in science and engineering degrees (3rd nationally) and venture capital investment relative to GDP. Maryland leads the nation in science and engineering graduates (48.5%) and ranks 3rd in STEM workforce share. Virginia reports the 2nd highest share of STEM professionals and strong projected job demand.
Meanwhile, Wyoming presents one of the most unusual profiles in the ranking. Despite having the lowest projected STEM job demand, it ranks 4th in R&D spending per capita and leads the nation in new business applications per capita. Oregon closes out the top ten with the 3rd highest patent rate nationwide and a strong share of science and engineering graduates.
Least Innovative States
At the bottom of the ranking, Mississippi places last. The state records the lowest patent output in the country and ranks near the bottom for venture capital investment and STEM workforce share. Although new business applications perform better than expected, weak patent and funding activity weigh heavily on its overall score.
Louisiana, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Oklahoma round out the bottom five. Louisiana reports the lowest share of STEM professionals nationally, while West Virginia records the lowest venture capital investment in the country. Arkansas struggles with low patent activity and the lowest rate of new business applications, and Oklahoma’s relatively stronger R&D spending is offset by weaker patent production and funding levels.
The full list of the most and least innovative states:
| Rank | State | Invention patents per 100,000 people | Venture capital investment per $1M GDP | R&D spending per 100,000 people | STEM professionals (%) | Science & Engineering degrees (%) | Number of new business applications per 100,000 people | Tech companies (%) | Projected STEM job demand by 2030 | Total score |
| 1 | California | 117.12 | 28,980 | 2,019,402 | 4.10 | 46.5 | 1,397 | 2.77 | 1,189,500 | 64.74 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 110.69 | 21,306 | 815,393 | 4.30 | 43.3 | 1,102 | 5.4 | 93,290 | 54.41 |
| 3 | Washington | 81.40 | 4,753 | 966,525 | 6.02 | 45.4 | 1,768 | 4.64 | 221,270 | 46.12 |
| 4 | Delaware | 32.88 | 27,978 | 347,259 | 3.46 | 39.4 | 5,655 | 5.64 | 24,450 | 43.01 |
| 5 | Colorado | 60.61 | 8,871 | 700,852 | 4.71 | 42.8 | 2,396 | 5.88 | 239,600 | 42.38 |
| 6 | Vermont | 52.14 | 11,512 | 266,064 | 2.67 | 45.9 | 1,205 | 6.74 | 12,370 | 36.46 |
| 7 | Maryland | 31.03 | 2,755 | 649,884 | 5.08 | 48.5 | 1,609 | 4.99 | 238,620 | 34.65 |
| 8 | Virginia | 35.73 | 2,267 | 642,268 | 5.86 | 37.6 | 1,564 | 5.72 | 303,690 | 34.28 |
| 9 | Wyoming | 26.94 | 2,210 | 2,335,239 | 1.46 | 44.9 | 13,430 | 3.01 | 9,850 | 34.00 |
| 10 | Oregon | 81.56 | 1,664 | 813,283 | 3.16 | 44 | 1,466 | 3.72 | 105,760 | 33.44 |
| 11 | Connecticut | 64.82 | 4,465 | 1,616,777 | 2.94 | 38.3 | 1,351 | 4.34 | 83,210 | 32.46 |
| 12 | New York | 38.03 | 11,104 | 2,364,648 | 3.14 | 39 | 1,507 | 2.78 | 276,970 | 32.26 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 38.62 | 2,855 | 238,027 | 3.73 | 39 | 1,074 | 7.44 | 18,600 | 30.54 |
| 14 | New Jersey | 43.59 | 3,296 | 1,185,928 | 3.87 | 41 | 1,677 | 3.35 | 218,620 | 29.22 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 62.44 | 1,084 | 88,819 | 3.33 | 30.2 | 1,218 | 7.24 | 38,830 | 28.45 |
| 16 | Utah | 47.53 | 4,122 | 318,479 | 4.21 | 25.2 | 2,049 | 6.51 | 103,930 | 27.83 |
| 17 | Idaho | 64.51 | 730 | 733,115 | 2.22 | 34.8 | 1,648 | 5.66 | 33,390 | 27.01 |
| 18 | Minnesota | 67.30 | 3,292 | 495,733 | 3.34 | 29.6 | 1,269 | 4.37 | 169,560 | 26.46 |
| 19 | Texas | 36.27 | 2,745 | 828,153 | 3.58 | 37.9 | 1,709 | 3.07 | 704,260 | 26.37 |
| 20 | North Carolina | 32.77 | 4,227 | 353,731 | 3.83 | 37.5 | 1,631 | 4.49 | 257,860 | 25.99 |
| 21 | Michigan | 55.55 | 1,396 | 165,012 | 2.86 | 40.4 | 1,493 | 3.71 | 241,660 | 25.00 |
| 22 | Maine | 15.39 | 871 | 2,935,415 | 2.27 | 38.2 | 1,020 | 4.48 | 21,310 | 23.81 |
| 23 | North Dakota | 21.14 | 223 | 4,856,740 | 1.80 | 31.4 | 1,137 | 2.81 | 15,550 | 23.15 |
| 24 | Montana | 20.64 | 1,811 | 1,283,086 | 1.89 | 41.1 | 2,632 | 4.64 | 22,310 | 22.13 |
| 25 | Florida | 22.42 | 2,572 | 1,369,289 | 2.96 | 36 | 2,718 | 2.74 | 402,960 | 21.85 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 46.28 | 911 | 260,581 | 2.82 | 39.5 | 1,197 | 3.4 | 143,060 | 21.50 |
| 27 | Illinois | 39.87 | 2,721 | 137,515 | 2.94 | 34.5 | 1,488 | 4.2 | 251,670 | 21.50 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | 32.60 | 2,164 | 726,721 | 2.90 | 40 | 1,229 | 2.97 | 280,600 | 21.46 |
| 29 | Arizona | 36.65 | 2,953 | 223,133 | 3.37 | 26.6 | 4,373 | 3.66 | 170,620 | 20.21 |
| 30 | Georgia | 23.32 | 1,756 | 249,576 | 3.42 | 38.9 | 2,256 | 2.81 | 209,000 | 19.22 |
| 31 | Ohio | 37.31 | 1,464 | 615,741 | 2.68 | 35 | 1,411 | 3.44 | 123,280 | 19.19 |
| 32 | Tennessee | 18.69 | 1,425 | 1,208,296 | 2.49 | 29.4 | 1,416 | 5.22 | 127,280 | 18.42 |
| 33 | Nebraska | 15.87 | 424 | 1,560,133 | 3.19 | 31.7 | 1,142 | 3.76 | 46,470 | 17.68 |
| 34 | South Carolina | 19.21 | 683 | 1,082,127 | 2.38 | 32.7 | 1,694 | 4.57 | 96,260 | 17.65 |
| 35 | Missouri | 20.39 | 939 | 279,811 | 2.92 | 34.3 | 1,618 | 4.04 | 122,310 | 16.54 |
| 36 | Kansas | 24.18 | 1,138 | 423,193 | 2.75 | 31.2 | 1,261 | 4.58 | 61,840 | 16.46 |
| 37 | Indiana | 30.64 | 2,040 | 470,377 | 2.15 | 35.1 | 1,292 | 3.4 | 113,240 | 16.28 |
| 38 | Nevada | 37.73 | 1,400 | 205,119 | 1.79 | 33.8 | 1,958 | 3.77 | 43,420 | 15.93 |
| 39 | New Mexico | 21.08 | 2,437 | 165,654 | 2.76 | 34.7 | 1,916 | 3.5 | 39,000 | 15.62 |
| 40 | Iowa | 32.87 | 637 | 443,280 | 2.51 | 35.7 | 1,081 | 2.86 | 65,190 | 15.53 |
| 41 | South Dakota | 16.65 | 480 | 544,495 | 2.13 | 36.7 | 1,324 | 3.95 | 17,620 | 14.50 |
| 42 | Alabama | 9.31 | 301 | 1,253,622 | 2.74 | 28.5 | 1,361 | 3.49 | 96,720 | 12.87 |
| 43 | Kentucky | 16.73 | 447 | 674,136 | 1.94 | 28.2 | 1,390 | 4.34 | 65,970 | 11.86 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | 12.70 | 612 | 755,385 | 2.29 | 32 | 1,384 | 3.16 | 60,940 | 11.61 |
| 45 | Arkansas | 11.01 | 1,035 | 441,801 | 2.04 | 27 | 516 | 4.28 | 34,180 | 9.07 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 5.37 | 4 | 675,140 | 1.91 | 29.2 | 939 | 4.18 | 21,770 | 9.00 |
| 47 | Louisiana | 8.83 | 958 | 990,937 | 1.32 | 30.5 | 1,646 | 2.46 | 50,570 | 7.50 |
| 48 | Mississippi | 5.30 | 178 | 420,171 | 1.42 | 27.6 | 1,791 | 2.89 | 32,470 | 4.60 |
Methodology
This study analyzed eight key factors to identify the most innovative U.S. states. Each metric was standardized, weighted, and combined to calculate a total score and produce the final ranking.
The factors and their respective weights are as follows: invention patents per 100,000 people (20%), venture capital investment per $1 million GDP (15%), R&D spending per 100,000 people (15%), STEM professionals as a share of total employment (12%), number of new business applications per 100,000 people (12%), share of science and engineering degrees (10%), share of tech companies (10%), and projected STEM job demand by 2030 (6%).
Sources: United States Patent and Trademark Office, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, State Government Research and Development Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, CompTIA, Projections Central