Factors Influencing the Adoption of Intellectual Property as Collateral in Commercial Lending: Evidence from Zimbabwe

The study investigated the challenges associated with the use of intellectual property as collateral in financial transactions in Zimbabwe. The aim was to assess the level of knowledge of IP as an asset particularly amongst stakeholders in loan transactions and to explore factors influencing the acceptance or non-acceptance of IP as collateral in loan transactions. The findings reveal that though Zimbabwe launched its IP strategy and policy in 2018, with related laws to govern registration and protection of IP enacted, there was no legislation to support the use of IP as collateral. The study therefore established the institutional and individual factors in conjunction with other antecedent independent factors that influence the use of IP as collateral. It is recommended that stakeholders, decision-makers in Government and financial institutions be made aware of the use of IP for wealth creation as a strategy to increase the value of businesses in promoting economic growth. The study developed a model for promotion of IP knowledge, creativity and innovation for industrial and national development