Intellectual capital's link with financing opportunities

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to provide empirical evidence on the link between intellectual capital and a firm's ability to attract funding and financing in Italian companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 125 Italian companies was collected through an online survey and analysed using structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

Results show that structural capital has a positive, direct impact on both human and relational capital. At the same time, relational capital is the only intellectual capital component that has a positive, direct impact on a firm's ability to attract funding and financing. Finally, we found that a firm's ability to attract funding and financing impacts both innovation and financial performance.

Originality/value

This novel study is among the first to provide empirical evidence of how human, relational and structural capital interact with each other and enhance a firm's ability to attract funding and financing.

Citation

Del Baldo, M., Giampaoli, D., Macrellino, M. and Bontis, N. (2023), "Intellectual capital's link with financing opportunities", Journal of Intellectual Capital, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 359-374. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-04-2021-0105