Logistics and transport company Pilot Freight Services used the global recession to its advantage, expanding aggressively and taking on more staff, all with a view to providing a better service to its clients. The results so far suggest that this bravery has paid off.

The agri-food business has acquired a mixed reputation over the past few years, with many in emerging markets claiming that the demands placed upon it are unrealistic. However, the issue of feeding the world's growing population is not going to go away, and those well placed to meet these demands will be the ones to profit.

The growing demands on the world's water supplies have led to recent warnings of future food and energy shortages, as well as more droughts such as those seen in the US this year. Given this, it is little surprise that water security and monitoring services are being increasingly sought-after, and their importance looks set to grow and grow.

Universities in the US have long reaped the benefits of the research conducted on campus, but a new rule looks to afford researchers the choice of commercialising their ideas outside of the university at which they work.

The US manufacturing industry is trying to boost production and competitiveness by utilising advanced manufacturing techniques. But while the hardware and technology is ready for deployment, there are concerns that the country's workforce lacks the appropriate skills to oversee these news processes.

As US companies eye opportunities in the growing economies of Central and South America, businesses in Europe and Asia are increasingly using their operations in US cities as an entry point to Latin American markets.

With government commitment to the US aerospace industry seemingly waning, many are predicting a skills shortage in the near future. Given the rapid developments in the aerospace industry globally, particularly in China, are the days of Western domination in this field numbered?

The Ohio city of Columbus has been one of the US's investment success stories of the past decade. Its mayor tells fDi how a road-building programme, the development of its central district, and the time-honoured tactic of visiting as many would-be investors as possible are paying dividends.

Local authorities in the US have long considered incentives to be a good way of attracting companies to invest in their city or state. But with many local budgets suffering from enormous deficits and a long list of companies that have failed to deliver the level of investment or job creation that was expected of them, is this the best way to spend public money?