Data centres are becoming increasingly essential business assets, and as many companies realise their need for such facilities, so too are locations across the US waking up to the economic benefits of hosting these large, power-hungry sites.

While the benefits of high-tech hubs are widely agreed upon – they generate substantial revenues, boost job creation and raise the profile of a location – the formula for creating a successful cluster is far less clear cut, with a multitude of factors, from the quality of local talent to the extent of government assistance, playing a part.

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.

Located at the heart of Europe and housing one of the world's busiest airports, the German region of Hessen ticks plenty of boxes for would-be foreign investors. Add to that mix a vibrant ICT sector, a world-renowned financial services industry and a workforce that is as skilled as it is large, and it becomes apparent why Hessen has been a star FDI performer over the past few decades.

IT company Ciklum began operations with just four people in an office in Kiev. So, asks Michal Kaczmarski, just how did it get from there to the multimillion dollar, multinational operation it is today?

Mobile apps may be a mainstream business, but the requirements of the companies working within this sector are somewhat unconventional. Therefore, the locations that want to attract these companies must focus as much on fostering the right culture as they do on educating their workforce and improving their business environment.