University of Manchester spin-out Arvia Technology, which treats organic liquid waste, has raised money from prior backer MTI, as well as investors Sustainable Technology Investors and Park Walk Advisors.

Corporates investing in clean-tech often invest in the sector because they believe it is consistent with their core business.

Intel Capital, the corporate venturing unit of chipmaker Intel, has been investing in clean-tech for five years.

The company was currently talking with other venture capital firms to pursue joint investment opportunities, allowing it to participate in bigger deals.

Large corporate players are beginning to show interest in early-stage clean energy companies, both through corporate investment arms and through full acquisitions. Their behaviour displays promising parallels to the early days of the biotechnology industry.

A long-term strategy that is paying dividends for the US oil major's corporate venturing unit.

Factors in the demise of a promising start-up heavily backed by venture capital firms and US government loans.

How to strike deep partnerships in which well-established corporations put skin in the game via research dollars, joint development agreements, channel partnerships for customer acquisition or even equity investments.

Gold an important precious metal for industrial innovation.