Investment in intangible assets passed $10 trillion for the first time in 2025, according to the third edition of the World Intangible Investment Highlights, published by WIPO and Italy’s Luiss Business School (LBS).

According to the report, intangible investment grew 5.5% from 2020 to 2025, compared with 3.2% for tangible investment, and now accounts for nearly 13% of GDP across the 29 economies covered.

Investment trends

The 29 high- and middle-income economies represent about 57% of world GDP. The latest edition of the report adds estimates for Canada and the Philippines and updates the figures for Brazil, India and Japan.

Companies and government entities in the US invested nearly $5 trillion in intangibles in 2025. Those in Japan invested $810 billion (an increase of 4.8%) and those in Germany $695 billion.

The gap between the US and the next four economies combined has roughly doubled over the past decade.

In India and the Philippines, intangible investment grew 5.3% and 3.9% annually over the past decade respectively, demonstrating that intangible investment is growing beyond high-income countries.

In a statement, WIPO Director General Daren Tang said: “This record-breaking rise in intangible asset investment clearly shows that global economic value is shifting from physical assets to intangible assets. This cuts across both mature and emerging economies. This data shows that countries and businesses are increasingly turning to innovation, technology and creativity to drive growth. I hope that the report gives decision makers insights into these trends and help them put in place the right policies, practices and programs to support their innovators and creators.”

The report is produced under the WIPO–LBS Partnership on Intangible Assets in the Global Economy and was published during the WIPO General Assemblies in Geneva. A summary and video presenting the main findings can be viewed on WIPO’s website here.

WIPO-NGO Stakeholder Dialogue

MARQUES participated in the WIPO-NGO Stakeholder Dialogue that took place in Geneva on 10 July 2026, represented by MARQUES 2nd Vice-Chair Tapio Blanc of F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG.

WIPO organised the WIPO-NGO Stakeholder Dialogue in the margin of the General Assemblies. It included 49 stakeholder participants from different areas and from all over the world. After the opening remarks by Director General Daren Tang, the meeting included a presentation by Assistant Director General Marco Aleman on the topic “IP & Innovation Ecosystems Sector” and a lively Q&A session. 

Tapio said: “This was a very productive meeting and a great opportunity to discuss current issues of interest to MARQUES members directly with WIPO officials. We look forward to continuing to work closely with WIPO on various projects over the coming year and even to strengthening our collaboration."

The 68^th Series of meetings of the Assemblies were held from 7 to 15 July. More details are available on WIPO’s website here.

Photo of Tapio Blanc at the WIPO-NGO Stakeholder Dialogue