A satellite communication antenna at the biggest facility for satellite communication in Raisting, Bavaria, Germany.

This commentary focuses on state-sponsored industrial espionage (i.e., the theft of trade secrets, intellectual property and scientific know-how from enterprises and research centers in peacetime) and the threats it poses to national and economic security. More specifically, the commentary 1) identifies the main state perpetrators of industrial espionage and their motives; 2) clarifies the types of organizations that are targeted and the high-value information they retain; and 3) recommends ways for governments and organizations to deter this specialized form of theft.

© 2015 EU Institute for Security Studies