Discussion at Kyushu University, Japan, identifies that Fukuoka, under its youthful mayor Soichiro Takashima (he was elected in 2010 aged 36), is one region continuing to explore its options to be a growth centre.

Ulrich Mahr, in charge of spinout activities and portfolio management at Max Planck Innovation, talks to Thierry Heles about the successes and goals of the organisation.

Profile: BPIfrance

This month's regions piece focuses on the rapid growth of Canada into the university innovation scene.

Highlights from interviews conducted at the Quebec City Conference

New Zealand's startup scene is characterised by active angel investors but companies tend to look outside the country when they reach expansion stage, Banga explained.

Canada-based corporates and governments need to match their US counterparts and be less 'Canadian' in order to grow the country's venture capital sector.