Revolymer, which makes chewing gum that is easier to remove from streets and pavements, was backed by the Setsquared Partnership, a joint venture capital initiative between Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey.

VTB has reportedly led an $18m series C round for Fast Lane Ventures, which has incubated online dating site Teamo.ru, Pinternet clone Pinme.ru and location-based shopping service Locata.

Last year, Yandex started its domestic seed investment program, Yandex.Factory.

Alongside Uni Venture, a venture capital arm of Bawag that works closely with Innovationsagentur, in the round were Buschier, Fides and Hybag.

Stas, who previously held the same role at Algonomics, a Belgium-based biotech service provider before its sale to Lonza Group, succeeds Marc Zabeau, who remains on the board of directors.

The venture firm backed by Alstom, Solvay Rhodia and Schneider Electric invest in the France-based light emitting diode company.

UK-listed investment fund Imperial Innovations joins GlaxoSmithKline's SR One, fund manager Invesco Perpetual and Lundbeckfond Ventures, backing the d cancer treatment company.

The corporate venturing unit of GlaxoSmithKline joins Imperial Innovations, Invesco Perpetual and Lundbeckfond Ventures backing the UK-based cancer treatment company.