ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the different states of intellectual capital (IC) research, especially the fifth stage with its focus on macro aspects of IC. The purpose is to increase awareness of these different approaches in order to reveal the hidden value of both nations and enterprises, to the benefit of future generations. The work on intangibles began decades ago, with the global financial group Skandia, based in Sweden, among the first, presenting its first public annual IC report as a prototype in 1993. It has since been followed by many other organizations, seeking to present a supplementary report to the financial annual report that encompasses key drivers for the enterprise's value creation. The World Intellectual Capital Initiative is a private/public sector collaboration aimed at improving capital allocation through better corporate reporting information. In Japan there has also been prototyping on integrated reporting initiatives, with the International Integrated Reporting Council in collaboration with Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and business.
