Montréal, QC – [September 24,2025] – ResearchFDI Academy, the industry’s leading expert-led training platform for economic development professionals, is proud to announce its official partnership with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). This collaboration provides practitioners with a professional development pathway to strengthen their foreign direct investment (FDI) expertise and earn the designation of Certified Foreign Direct Investment Professional (FDIP).
The partnership was unveiled during a special celebration at the IEDC Annual Conference in Detroit, where ResearchFDI hosted the official launch of its Academy. The event brought together economic development leaders from across North America to mark the first graduating class of FDIP-certified professionals, recognize outstanding practitioners with honorary FDIP degrees, and announce the exciting collaboration with IEDC. Guests enjoyed cocktails, gourmet appetizers, and lively networking as the industry celebrated innovation, professional growth, and global competitiveness.
Through the program, IEDC members who complete ResearchFDI Academy’s eight-module curriculum, pass the final assessment with a score of 75 percent or higher, and present a sector-focused regional pitch to an expert panel will earn the FDIP designation. CEcD-designated professionals will also receive two Level 2 credits toward maintaining their Certified Economic Developer certification. The curriculum spans the full spectrum of investment attraction, from global strategies and value proposition development to investor prospecting, aftercare, and retention — delivered through a flexible, self-paced online platform designed for busy professionals.
“Partnerships are at the core of what we do at IEDC, and this partnership with ResearchFDI is a perfect example,” said Nathan Ohle, President & CEO of IEDC. “We are excited to continue creating great resources, like the FDI course agreement, for economic developers to access as they build skills to compete globally.”
Bruce Takefman, President & CEO of ResearchFDI, added: “We are thrilled to partner with IEDC to raise the standard of investment attraction training across the industry. The FDIP designation provides practitioners with the tools, confidence, and global perspective they need to succeed in today’s competitive environment. Our launch event in Detroit was an incredible milestone, and this partnership underscores our shared commitment to equipping communities with the expertise to secure investment and drive sustainable economic growth.”
Economic developers can now enroll in ResearchFDI Academy to pursue the FDIP designation and take advantage of the exclusive partnership with IEDC.
To do so, please register here and use the code #IEDC15
About ResearchFDI:
Research Consultants International FDI, Inc. (ResearchFDI) is a leading economic development and investment-attraction consultancy headquartered in Montréal, Canada. ResearchFDI supports EDOs with market research and analytics, target sector strategy, lead generation and outreach, and training and professional development through ResearchFDI Academy. The firm’s work helps communities attract investment, create jobs, and strengthen their economic competitiveness. Learn more at ResearchFDI.com.
About the International Economic Development Council:
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. regions. www.iedcONLINE.org.
