From Inventions Management to Intellectual Capital Management at The Dow Chemical Company: A 100+ Year Journey

In 1897, Herbert H. Dow put Thomas Griswold, the Chief Engineer, in charge of reviewing new inventions for The Dow Chemical Company. In the 21st century, Dow has > 50 Intellectual Capital Managers and > 60 Intellectual Property Attorneys working with the businesses to create value from intangibles. Three key elements for this successful journey are highlighted: culture, trust, and strategy. To continue creating sustainable value growth from intangibles, the importance of having senior management support, showing real monetary results from managing intellectual capital, and investing in dedicated resources will be illustrated and discussed.