The aim of these articles is to keep our Clients and Associates updated about developments in the sector of Intellectual Property in general and our firm in particular. In this way, we wish to provide a broader view of the tools that the field of trade marks, domain names, patents, designs and related rights offers to entrepreneurs to enhance and protect their efforts in researching and developing new solutions and ideas.
Investing in Intangible Assets: The True Capital of Modern Enterprises
In recent years, the global economic landscape has undergone a quiet yet radical transformation: the focus of investment has shifted from tangible assets - machinery, real estate, infrastructure - to intangible ones such as Research & Development, intellectual property, trade secrets, know-how, software, and databases.
The World Intangible Investment Highlights 2025 (WIIH 2025) report, recently published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with Luiss Business School (LBS), clearly illustrates this evolution and leaves no room for doubt: we are in the midst of a profound economic shift in which a company’s true competitive edge increasingly lies in its intangible assets.
The Unstoppable Rise of Intangibles
According to the WIIH 2025 report, global investment in intangible assets has consistently outpaced that in tangible assets, with countries like Sweden and the United States leading the way in intangible investment intensity, each exceeding 15% of GDP. Between 2008 and 2024, investment in intangibles grew 3.7 times faster than in tangible assets. Looking further back, since 1995, intangible investments have surged by 143%, while tangible investments have grown by just 32%.
In 2024 alone, investments in intangibles reached an impressive $7.6 trillion, sustaining overall investment growth despite economic headwinds, uncertainty, and rising interest rates.
Perhaps most tellingly, the WIIH 2025 report notes that intangible assets have accounted for an increasing share of global GDP - surpassing tangible asset investment as a percentage of GDP for the first time in 2009, with the gap widening ever since.
These figures are not mere statistics. They reflect a fundamental paradigm shift that businesses - large or small - must urgently integrate into their growth strategies.
Intangibles Matter More Than Machines
The WIIH 2025 report underscores a pivotal reality: today’s most competitive companies are not defined by how many factories they own, but by the strength of their intangible assets.
- Software and data lead the charge, propelled by the explosive growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- Organizational capital - including management know-how and internal processes - accounts for nearly one-third of global intangible investments.
- Trademarks and design have posted double-digit growth in recent years, underscoring the critical role of reputation and customer experience in value creation.
In essence, what makes a company resilient and attractive is no longer (just) what it physically owns, but what it can create, protect, and leverage in the intangible domain.
From Cost to Strategic Asset: Intangibles as Financial Leverage
A frequently overlooked point is that intangible assets are not just tools for innovation - they are becoming powerful financial instruments. More and more banks and investment funds are recognizing the value of intangibles as collateral for financing.
A well-structured portfolio of patents, trademarks, designs and documented know-how can:
- Enhance the overall valuation of the company;
- Facilitate access to dedicated credit lines;
- Attract investors and industrial partners, eager to engage with companies whose technologies and brands are securely protected.
In this light, the management of intangibles is no longer a purely “technical” issue delegated to legal or R&D departments - it becomes a strategic business decision. It means treating patents, designs, trademarks, and know-how as core business assets.
A Strategic Opportunity Not to Be Missed
It is clear from the above that businesses worldwide should strengthen their focus on intangible assets, boosting their investments in this direction and transforming them into a key engine of competitiveness and innovation.
Our Call to Action
The trend is crystal clear: intangible assets are no longer optional - they are the beating heart of the global economy. The businesses that will lead the markets in the coming years are those that know how to invest in, protect, and maximize the value of their intangible assets.
Now is the time to think beyond the physical. Intangibles are shaping the future of business.
In this evolving landscape, we at Interpatent are ready to support our Clients with tailored protection strategies for patents, trademarks, designs, trade secrets as well as with IP portfolio management (monitoring, renewals, and enforcement) and assessment.