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.

California, once the undisputed home of the film industry, is facing increasingly stiff competition from as far afield as the UK and India, as other locations wake up to the possibilities of this lucrative industry and attempt to attract production companies with incentive packages.

Concerned about an over-reliance on its oil and gas industries, the Trinidad and Tobago government is working to highlight its other strengths to would-be investors, with a particular emphasis being placed on its educated and highly skilled workforce.

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.

South Korea's taste for Western consumer goods has made the country a key Asian market for companies in this industry from North America and western Europe, as shown by Kimberly Clark's decision to locate a global innovation centre there.

While South Korea's ageing population is causing ripples of concern for the country's politicians, it is providing a boon for its many healthcare companies. This, along with moves to establish South Korea as a key destination for health tourists, is giving both domestic and international investors in the country cause for optimism.