South Dakota boosts rate of patents issued

By:  Sioux Falls Business Journal

Thursday, 19 April, 2007

     South Dakota has moved up from the bottom of a national ranking of states in the rate of patents issued to companies and individuals.  In 2002, South Dakota ranked 50th in the number of patents issued per 1,000 workers. The state is ranks 41st In the 2007 State New Economy Index.  The index was compiled by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation with funding help from the Kaufmann Foundation. 

     The state patent rate increased in five years from .13 patents per thousand workers to .28 per thousand workers, making South Dakota one of the top six movers on the scale.

     "This is significant because it is telling entrepreneurs in South Dakota that we are listening," said Marcia Hendrickson, executive director of the Enterprise Institute, which has offices in Sioux Falls, Brookings and Yankton.

     The Enterprise Institute helps researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs develop their ideas.