Energy sector forges new links with clean-tech 2.0 investors.

Earlier this year, Shell created the role of vice-president (VP) of innovation to help bring together its corporate venturing units with other parts of its technology and business development teams.

The wireless communications company for vehicles backed by a corporate venturing unit of Anglo-Dutch oil major Royal Dutch Shell, could raise as much as $19.2m in the round.

Smith Electric, backed by the Tanfield Group and SEV Group, had set a range, with a mid-point of $76m, before pulling its IPO on Friday.

Samsung's corporate venturing unit backs the company, joining Intel Capital and venture firms MissionPoint and Novus Energy Partners as investors.

The round included backing from existing investor, clean tech asset management group I2BF and SC Green Tech Ventures, an investment arm of Sumitomo Corporation.

Robot manufacturer QBotix attracts $6.5m for its series A round from Siemens Venture Capital and other investors for solar panel maintaining robots.

The Australia Challenge will see GE and its venture capital partners, Southern Cross, MH Carnegie, Cleantech Ventures, Starfish Ventures and CVC Sustainable Investments, invest $10m in clean-tech start-ups and mid-stage ventures working on low carbon solutions and energy efficiency.