The relatively small and quiet Canadian province of Nova Scotia manages to punch above its weight in the investment stakes, thanks in no small part to its economic development agency, which has taken a creative and thorough approach to attracting FDI.

The province of Quebec stands out from the rest of Canada for myriad reasons. Its culture and language are obvious examples of this, but its proactive approach to attracting both investment and labour also give the region something to be proud of.

Governor Jay Nixon led a European roadshow in June to drum up interest in the mid-western state of Missouri, highlighting its solid fiscal record and strengths in financial services, advanced manufacturing and animal sciences. He sat down with Courtney Fingar on a stop in London.

The US biotechnology landscape has changed radically in the 20 years since the first BIO International Convention. And while investment is still focused on a handful of states, other US destinations are bubbling under.

The US city of Houston has a lot to offer as a business destination, as its strong record in FDI proves. Its only problem, says the city's mayor, Annise Parker, is in trying to shake off outdated negative perceptions.

As budget cuts loom in the US and businesses move their funding to growth regions such as China, fDi looks at whether the US's reputation as a global leader in R&D is under threat?

While the US continues to take the lion’s share of investment and projects in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, locations in Asia and Europe are increasingly attracting the attention of investors.