This paper examines the current state practice of cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property (or economic cyber-espionage) for commercial purposes. In 2015, the members of the G20 agreed that no state should engage in or support that practice.

In this briefing note, the authors conclude that the threat of state-sponsored economic cyber-espionage is more significant than ever, with countries industrialising their cyber-espionage efforts to target commercial firms and universities on a grand scale.