Economic espionage refers to the theft or misappropriation of trade secrets, proprietary information, or intellectual property for the benefit of a foreign government, organization, or entity. Unlike typical corporate espionage, economic espionage often involves state-sponsored actors targeting businesses, research institutions, or government agencies to gain a competitive or strategic advantage. Methods may include cyber intrusions, insider threats, or covert operations. The consequences can be severe, including financial losses, erosion of competitive edge, and threats to national security. Laws such as the Economic Espionage Act in the United States criminalize such activities and impose significant penalties on perpetrators.