Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The UK Investment in Intangible Assets Survey (IIA Survey) was launched in 2009 and explores the level of spending and life lengths of private sector investments in intangible assets. The survey was discontinued following the 2010 survey. The survey is distinctive from other surveys measuring intangible assets, such as the UK Innovation Survey (UK Data Archive SN 6699), in terms of three main features. First, the survey covers expenditure on a wider range of intangibles, including training, software, branding, design and business process. Second, the survey asks firms about both purchased and in-house expenditure. Third, in order to estimate depreciation rates, the survey also asks about the length of time firms expect to benefit from spending on intangibles. Firms with ten or more employees across the production and service sectors were drawn from the Inter-Departmental Business Register. The sample frame is broadly consistent with that of the UK Innovation Survey, but the sample size is considerably smaller. Linking to other business studies These data contain Inter-Departmental Business Register reference numbers. These are anonymous but unique reference numbers assigned to business organisations. Their inclusion allows researchers to combine different business survey sources together. Researchers may consider applying for other business data to assist their research. The third edition (May 2016) includes enhanced data files and documentation for 2009 and 2010. Main Topics:The survey set out to measure two main areas. First, the business' investment in the following six categories of intangible assets, split to reflect purchased and in-house investments:trainingsoftwareresearch and developmentdesignreputation and brandingbusiness process improvementThe second area of the survey was to determine the lifetime benefit of each of the above categories of intangible asset.