Intellectual capital gathers all the intangible assets that are value creating for a company or any type of organization.

Although brands and patents can be taken into account under certain conditions – due to the IAS-IFRS norms, most intangible assets are off-balance-sheet.

Nevertheless, they are responsible for over two-thirds of western companies profitability. Their identification, measurement and management become essential for the well-being of our companies.

In 2005, researchers in the field of intangibles and managers from the private sector agreed to found an entity devoted to intangible assets measurement. This led to the birth of the Observatory of Intangibles.

The public sector follows next with the French Ministry of Economy setting up in 2006 a Commission for Intangible Economy. Then in 2007 the Agence du Patrimoine Immatériel de l’Etat (APIE, i.e. the State’s Intangible Patrimony Agency) is founded.

As determined by the Observatory of Intangibles, the current system has defined around ten classes of assets:

"The wealth of intangibles is the key for tomorrow’s growth"

APIE

Shareholders - Finance Department

Organization - Organization Department

Brands - Marketing Department

Human Capital - HR department

Clientele - Sales Department

Suppliers / Partners - Purchase Department

IT Systems - IT department

Environmental Capital - Sustainable Development Department

Societal Capital - HR department

Technology - R&D Department