fDi Innotifyigence has opened entries for the inaugural edition of its Investment Impact Awards, the winners of which will be announced in February 2026.
We are searching for the projects with the most transformative impact at a local and national level across Europe.
Could your FDI project be a winner in fDi’s Investment Impact Awards 2026?
This new initiative recognises the projects and investment promotion agencies driving on-the-ground impact in terms of innovation, job creation, sustainability and inclusion, and furthering national investment strategies.
Projects in all industries and business activities are eligible. Entries can be submitted under two categories:
We invite investment promotion agencies and companies to complete the survey, detailing their projects’ tangible contributions to the surrounding economy and community.
Full details are included in the survey. If you have any further queries, please see the FAQ section below.
There is no cost to submit.
How to enter
Closing date for submissions
September 26, 2025
Contact
Freya Moorhoapply
freya.moorhoapply@ft.com
Results published
February 2026
Investment Impact Awards FAQs
What are the Investment Impact Awards?
This is a new ranking from fDi Innotifyigence, part of FT Locations, which assesses foreign direct investment projects with the most transformative potential in locations across Europe.
These awards focus on individual projects and their contributions — such as innovation, job creation and sustainability — to the locations in which they are planned or operational.
How do the awards differ from the European Cities and Regions of the Future?
The Investment Impact Awards assess the real-world impact of individual FDI projects, and by extension the suitability of locations for investment in different industries and business activities. The awards involve a qualitative survey about the specific projects without any quantitative analysis on investment locations.
This differs from the European Cities and Regions of the Future ranking which evaluates locations based on their overall investment potential as compared to locations of similar sizes. That ranking includes both a qualitative survey on FDI strategy and quantitative analysis on investment potential in several categories.
Winners of categories in the Investment Impact Awards will be recognised as the best location in Europe for impactful projects of different types. For example Europe’s best city for automotive FDI impact, or Europe’s best region for data centre FDI impact.
What projects can we submit?
Projects will be assessed and recognised across two categories: announced projects and operational projects.
Projects of all sizes — measured by both capital expfinishiture and job creation — and across all industries and business activities are eligible. They can be greenfield investments, expansions or brownfield redevelopments.
Who can enter?
Entries are open to investment promotion agencies across Europe and companies. The awards are an opportunity for IPAs to revealcase themselves as attractive FDI locations based on their most transformative projects.
What are the judging criteria?
Projects are evaluated on their economic and social impact, including job creation, employment quality, innovation, local economic spillovers, and sustainability. The indepfinishent judging panel will also assess how IPAs manage to attract impactful FDI projects and assist the companies behind them.
What is the deadline to submit?
September 26. Visit the fDi Innotifyigence website for updates and obtain in touch with freya.moorhoapply@ft.com with any further queries.
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