MONTREAL, January 23, 2025 – ResearchFDI and the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership aimed at empowering Ontario’s economic development professionals with cutting-edge training and globally recognized certification. Through this collaboration, EDCO members will gain exclusive access to the ResearchFDI Academy at special discounted pricing, further enhancing their professional development and investment attraction expertise.
ResearchFDI Academy is a revolutionary online training platform that delivers a flexible, self-paced curriculum designed to accelerate mastery in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The program provides comprehensive training in essential areas, including global investment strategies, stakeholder engagement, lead generation, and investor aftercare. Participants also have the opportunity to earn the prestigious FDIP (Foreign Direct Investment Professional) certification, which will be jointly accredited by ResearchFDI and EDCO, positioning them as leaders in the competitive field of economic development.
Bruce Takefman, CEO of ResearchFDI, expressed his excitement about the partnership:
“We are thrilled to collaborate with EDCO. Ontario has long been a key player in the global investment attraction landscape, and this partnership enables us to support the region’s professionals with world-class training. Through the ResearchFDI Academy, we aim to empower Ontario’s economic developers with the knowledge and skills they need to attract and retain global investment, promoting growth for their communities.”
Key Features of ResearchFDI Academy Include:
- Comprehensive training: Expert-led modules covering topics from market entry strategies to stakeholder engagement and aftercare.
- Flexible, self-paced learning: Participants can access training materials anytime, learn at their own pace, and complete assessments as they go.
- FDIP certification: Achieve the globally recognized FDIP (Foreign Direct Investment Professional) certification by completing the modules, passing the assessments, and delivering a live final presentation to the FDIP academic committee.
- Customized Ontario module: A specialized module featuring Ontario-specific content, developed in partnership with Invest Ontario, to ensure local relevance and expertise in regional investment strategies
- Customizable for organizations: The platform can be personalized with unique branding, customized modules, and reporting tools.
This partnership reinforces EDCO’s commitment to providing its members with top-tier resources and opportunities to advance their skills. EDCO members will not only benefit from specialized pricing but also gain access to an industry-leading platform designed to address the challenges of modern investment attraction. To take advantage of this exclusive offer, EDCO members must be members of EDCO and can use the code #EDCO2025 for special pricing on the ResearchFDI Academy platform when signing up here.
Stephanie Crilly, Executive Director of EDCO, shared her thoughts on the partnership:
“We are excited to work with ResearchFDI, a leader in the field of investment attraction. Their innovative platform and the opportunity for our members to earn FDIP certification will help position Ontario’s economic developers at the forefront of global investment strategies. This partnership is a natural fit, as it aligns with our ongoing commitment to offering our members the best tools and training available to foster investment and economic growth across the province.”
With this collaboration, Ontario’s economic development professionals will gain actionable insights, real-world examples, and proven methodologies to secure investments for their communities, further strengthening Ontario’s competitive edge in the global market.
About ResearchFDI
ResearchFDI is a global leader in providing innovative solutions for economic development organizations and investment promotion agencies. Specializing in lead generation, investment attraction, and FDI strategy, ResearchFDI helps regions and countries build long-term, sustainable economic growth through targeted investment initiatives.
About EDCO
The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) is Canada’s largest provincial economic development association. Representing hundreds of economic developers, EDCO is committed to advancing the economic development profession through leadership, education, and advocacy.
