Investment in Intangible Assets Surpasses $10 Trillion
Geneva, July 8, 2026
Investment in intangible assets reached over $10 trillion for the first time in 2025. The United States accounted for nearly half of this total, as investments in sectors like software, data, and intellectual property grew, even as investments in physical assets struggled due to economic uncertainty.
Key Findings
According to new data from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Italy’s Luiss Business School (LBS), intangible investments have grown at an annual rate of 5.5% from 2020 to 2025, which is notably higher than the 3.2% annual growth for tangible investments. Intangible investments now represent nearly 13% of GDP in covered economies, indicating a structural shift in investment patterns.
The World Intangible Investment Highlights 2026 report includes data from 29 high- and middle-income economies, reflecting 57% of global GDP. For the first time, it features estimates for Canada and the Philippines along with updated figures for Brazil, India, and Japan.
“This record-breaking rise in intangible asset investment clearly shows that global economic value is shifting from physical assets to intangible assets,” said WIPO Director General Daren Tang. “Countries and businesses are increasingly turning to innovation, technology, and creativity to drive growth.”
U.S. Dominance in Intangible Investment
In 2025, U.S. investments in intangibles approached $5 trillion, far exceeding any other economy. The gap between the U.S. and other leading economies has doubled in the past decade, growing from $1 trillion in 2015 to $2 trillion this year.
Japan follows the U.S. with an investment of $810 billion in intangibles, overtaking Germany’s $695 billion. Japan’s tangible investments are stagnating, but its intangibles grew by 4.8% in 2024, outpacing several other high-income countries.
Emerging economies are also increasing their intangible investment. India and the Philippines reported annual growth rates of 5.3% and 3.9% respectively, outperforming some high-income economies. Brazil is notable for its significant investment of $312 billion in intangibles in 2023.
AI’s Dual Waves of Investment
The report identifies two waves of investment driven by artificial intelligence (AI):
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Tangible Infrastructure: The first wave relates to physical infrastructure such as data centers and semiconductors, predominantly seen in the U.S. This has bolstered tangible investment.
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Broader Intangible Investment: The second wave involves investments in areas like data, software, research and development (R&D), and organizational knowledge.
While tangible assets support AI infrastructure, the enduring economic impact will arise from the intangible assets leveraged atop this foundation.
“AI is not just a new technology; it is reshaping how knowledge is produced,” noted Cecilia Jona-Lasinio, a co-author of the report. “Investment in intangibles is vital to understanding AI’s economic impact.”
Conclusion
The findings from WIPO and LBS present a robust picture of shifting investment patterns towards intangibles, particularly in the face of the ongoing AI revolution. Countries and businesses are urged to develop policies that support innovation and capitalize on these trends.
For more details about the report and its insights, visit the WIPO website.
Contact Information
For further inquiries, please reach out to WIPO’s News and Media Division:
- Phone: (+41 22) 338 81 61 / 338 72 24
