After a hugely successful 2013, expectations are high for the real estate sector in the Russian cities of Moscow and St Petersburg. However, unlike previous booms in the country, this particular building frenzy is largely being driven by foreign companies drawn in by Russia's rapidly growing middle class.

Investors are looking beyond Romanian capital Bucharest to cities such as Timisoara, Cluj Napoca, Brasov and Constanta, and finding growing economies, skills and business capacity. 

For biopharmaceutical companies entering Europe, the Belgian region of Wallonia is proving particularly popular. One reason for this is the service provided by the region’s export and investment agency, AWEX, finds Wendy Atkins

The UK may attract high levels of FDI, but there is an ever greater number of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) vying for this capital. To succeed in winning it, LEPs must be armed with the right expertise, a clear brand message and, of course, a distinct competitive advantage.

The Lower Saxony region in Germany is home to the world's largest exhibition hall and an impressive biotech cluster, meaning that the region is becoming a must-visit destination for numerous big names in the industry.

Popular before the crisis, Romania has seen a dearth of inward investment since 2008. The downturn has been blamed on political turbulence and a lack of credit, problems still evident, but a flurry of deals at the start of the year suggests that investors are once again looking to take advantage of the country's attractive talent pool and technological expertise.

The UK county of Essex is leveraging its skilled workforce, entrepreneurial culture and proximity to London to forge ties with foreign investors. 

With locations around the world falling for the charms of SMEs, Michal Kaczmarski looks at the innovative ways in which IPAs are attracting and nurturing smaller business, and assesses benefits they receive as the SMEs blossom into something much more lucrative.