Interaction of corporate and urban systems: accumulation of intangible assets

Abstract

This study develops a conceptual framework of the relationship between corporate systems and urban systems in the process of intangible asset accumulation and conducts case studies involving two distinctive and contrasting global firms. Intangible assets are important in maintaining the competitive advantage of cities and regions. The accumulation of local intangibles is the result of the evolutionary development of the relationship between the corporate system and the urban system. The results of the study suggest that the intangible assets of firms are critical in ensuring their competitiveness within a knowledge-based information society.