THE Philippines has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies in intangible investment, according to the World Intangible Investment Highlights (WIIH) 2026 report released by the World Intellectual Property Organization on Wednesday.
Intangible investments are non-physical assets and ideas that a company buys or builds to create future value. Unlike physical buildings or machinery, these investments rely on knowledge, data and reputation to give a business a competitive edge.
The country’s inclusion in the report marks its first appearance in the annual global study.
Published with the Rome-based Luiss Business School, the report examines how investments in research and development, software, brands, data, intellectual property and organizational know-how drive economic growth and competitiveness.
“We are particularly honored that the Philippines is the first country in the Asean region to be featured in this important global publication,” Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (Ipophl) Director General Teodoro Pascua said.
The report showed the country generated $49.1 billion in intangible investments in 2022, up 4.6 percent from 2021.
From 2012 to 2022, real intangible investment grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9 percent, exceeding the global average of 3.5 percent.
Research and development recorded the fastest growth among intangible assets, with a 20.1-percent CAGR over the decade, followed by software and databases at 18.3 percent.
Organizational capital accounted for the largest share of intangible assets at 48.3 percent, followed by brands at 28.9 percent.
The report also highlighted brands as an important strategic asset in the artificial intelligence era. Across the economies surveyed, brand investment totaled $1.4 trillion, with the Philippines ranking among the world’s top 12 at $14.2 billion.
As a share of gross domestic product (GDP), tangible investments accounted for 20 percent, while intangible investments represented 4.4 percent.
The WIIH said intangible assets remain undermeasured despite becoming an important driver of economic growth. Globally, investment in intangible assets has been growing nearly three times faster than tangible investment, with many advanced economies shifting toward knowledge-based industries.
Among the 29 economies covered by the report, which account for 57 percent of global GDP, total intangible investments exceeded $10 trillion in 2025, led by the United States, Japan and Germany.
“For the Ipophl, these findings reinforce our commitment to fostering an environment where innovation and creativity can flourish,” Pascua said.
