We study the relationship between industry-level investments in intangible capital (IC) and three key economic indicators in China. We find that investments in IC are productivity-enhancing among Chinese enterprises—more so in domestically owned than in foreign invested enterprises. Consistent with other research, we find that China’s IC generates new patents, but fewer than in major industrialized economies. Among domestically owned enterprises, we find that IC growth has been associated with increasing export-competitiveness, while among foreign invested enterprises, it has been oriented more toward improving domestic sales.