将知识产权融资从边缘转向主流

© WIPO, 2025 Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) The CC license does not apply to non-WIPOcontent in this publication. Cover: Getty Images/Serg Myshkovsky WIPO Reference RN2025–7ENDOI: 10.34667/tind.58498 Join theconversationon social media#WIPOipFinance Executive summary –Businesses need access to capital to scale and grow, yet many struggle when raising funds.This finance gap limits their success and potential for economic prosperity.–Mainstreaming IP finance could narrow this gap. What an enterprise creates and inventsholds tremendous value when protected by intellectual property (IP) rights. These intangibleassets can unlock both debt and equity financing.–Despite this potential, IP finance is still in its infancy. Several obstacles impede its growth.Overcoming these challenges requires inputs from multiple sectors and disciplines. Nosingle entity can address them alone.–WIPO, as the UN agency dedicated to developing a balanced and effective international IPsystem, brings together actors across disciplines to drive progress on these issues.–This paper describes the potential of IP finance, the challenges it faces, and approaches ofdifferent countries to tackle them. It also outlines WIPO’s initiatives to move IP finance fromthe margins to the mainstream. The potential of IP finance Intangibles drive our economie Over the last 25 years intangible asset value has increased 13-fold reaching an all-time high ofUSD 80 trillion in 2024.1The asset mix companies own reflects this fundamental shift. Intangiblesmake up more than 90 percent of the value of companies in the S&P 500.2Brand value alonereached USD 13 trillion in 2024, a more than 20 percent increase in just four years.3Since 2008,total investment in intangibles has consistently outpaced tangible assets.4Brands, designs andtechnology, rather than physical assets, determine a business’s ability to grow. Despite theirincreasing influence and importance, IP assets remain largely invisible in the world of finance. This is particularly significant for smaller businesses, whose worth primarily lies in what theyinvent and create. These small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contribute to more thanhalf of global employment and comprise 90 percent of businesses worldwide.5To grow, thriveand sometimes survive, they need access to capital. Despite their potential, many businesses struggle to secure traditional financing withoutphysical assets. Addressing this finance gap is crucial for intangible-intensive SMEs. Insufficientaccess to financial resources hinders their ability to gain market traction and scale. Withoutfunding, these companies are left behind, unable to compete.6 As a result, these businesses cannot fulfill their potential to drive sustainable economicdevelopment and prosperity. Bridging this gap is essential to fostering innovation and ensuringcompetition market dynamics. “Since 2008, total investment in intangibles hasconsistently outpaced tangible assets..” IP finance offers a solution To drive our economies forward, businesses need access to affordable capital. Strategic use ofIP to secure finance could narrow the divide and be a game changer for IP-intensive firms. Their intangibles,7especially those protected with IP rights, such as copyright, industrialdesigns, trademarks and patents, can be used to support lending and investment. This approach is already gaining traction in the market. A growing number of companies already leverage IP assets to secure the cash they need togrow and expand. This paper reveals the untapped potential of IP finance and identifies barriersto its widespread adoption. It presents a vision for progress. Advancing IP finance requires workacross disciplines, from finance, business, and government. As the United Nations (UN) agency dedicated to the development of a balanced and effectiveinternational IP system, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is uniquelypositioned to lead this transformation. WIPO’s Action Plan works to move IP finance from the margins to the mainstream. These effortsare part of WIPO’s general commitment to support businesses in maximizing the benefits theycan reap from their IP, and, at a broader level, to support economic growth. “Strategic use of IP to secure finance couldbecome a game changer for IP-intensive firms.” 1What is IP finance? IP finance uses intellectual property and related intangible assets to secure financing forbusiness growth. Companies can pledge these assets as collateral, transfer the rights to thecash flows they generate, or present them as indicators of value to support financing decisions.IP and related intangible assets vary in their importance across businesses – they representa small portion of what a company is worth for some firms, while constituting the majority ofvalue for others. Businesses are commonly funded through debt or equity financing.8IP and related intangiblesplay an important role in both types of fundin