Trends in South Dakota patenting

Jan. 26, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith PC.

By Jeffrey Proehl, patent attorney

The number of issued patents that listed at least one inventor having a South Dakota address dropped in 2021, with 207 patents granted to South Dakota residents. This total represented a continuing downward trend with respect to previous years, including 2020, when 218 patents were granted to similarly situated inventors and the 241 patents granted in 2019 to South Dakota citizens.

The 2021 number represents an increase over 2018, when 201 patents granted to South Dakota inventors. Before that, one has to go back to 2012 to find a lower number of patents granted to South Dakota inventors than in 2021 or 2018.

There is no readily apparent explanation for the recent decrease in the number of patents to South Dakota inventors other than perhaps the natural ebb and flow of innovation. Since it often takes a minimum of one year, and more typically 18 months to three years, to complete the patent application process, any drop-off in the filing of patent applications that may have occurred in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic is unlikely to have a significant effect on the granting of patents in 2021.

So how do these numbers fit in among other states in our region? South Dakota inventors do better than two of the neighboring states, namely North Dakota and Wyoming, which had inventors named on 204 patents and 178 patents, respectively, in 2021. Beyond those states, residents of adjacent states had higher numbers. Montana denizens are named on 305 patents, while at least one Nebraska resident is listed on 506 patents. The competition then becomes much tougher. Iowans are named as inventors on 1,585 patents, and Minnesotans are listed as inventors on 5,346 patents.

From a geographic standpoint within South Dakota, Sioux Falls leads the way with 84 patents granted to its resident inventors, with Rapid City and Brookings following up with 33 patents and 22 patents, respectively, to their citizens. Yankton inventors follow with nine patents, while Mitchell has four inventors, and Aberdeen and Pierre both have two inventors in the 2021 tally.

With respect to patents owned by South Dakota-based entities, POET led the way with 15 patents, while the South Dakota Board of Regents had an ownership interest in 13 patents granted in 2021. Larson Manufacturing’s employees obtained nine patents for their employer, while Raven Industries received eight patents in 2021. Sanford Health was assigned seven patents in 2021. Honorable mention goes to Amesbury Truth of Sioux Falls, which is not based in the state but had nine patents granted to inventors from South Dakota.

If you are an inventor seeking to patent a process or invention, visit woodsfuller.com or contact patent attorney Jeffrey Proehl to learn how Woods Fuller can help guide you through the process.

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Trends in South Dakota patenting

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