World Intellectual Property Report 2017: Intangible Capital in Global Value Chains (Russian version)

Discover the hidden engines of modern commerce. The World Intellectual Property Report 2017 delves into the critical role of intangible capital, encompassing technology, design, and branding, within international manufacturing and global value chains. It reveals that these often-overlooked assets account for a substantial portion of the value consumers pay for products and are central to market success. This report provides macroeconomic analysis and detailed case studies, including the global value chains of coffee, photovoltaic energy cells, and smartphones, to illustrate how intellectual property and other intangibles drive value creation. It demonstrates that intangible capital contributed approximately one-third of the total value of manufactured goods sold between 2000 and 2014, surpassing the contribution of tangible assets. Understanding these dynamics offers insight into how firms secure competitive advantage and how economies can foster innovation and growth in an increasingly knowledge-driven world.