The exchange operator's Nasdaq Ventures unit will invest less than $1m up to $10m in strategically relevant companies from seed to late stage.

The genomics technology producer has boosted the size of the corporate venture capital unit it announced in April last year from $100m to $189m with a $250m ceiling.

Business Development Bank of Canada has formed a corporate innovation and venturing initiative and hired Michelle Scarborough to oversee strategic investment initiatives.

John Lewis and subsidiary Waitrose have teamed up for the fourth year of its retail technology accelerator, JLab, through which startups can apply for up to $125,000.

Novartis Venture Fund, Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Pfizer are supporting the newly launched Swiss healthcare accelerator.

The fund, backed by Tsinghua Unigroup, will support the growth of industries including high-end manufacturing, IT, aerospace, new energy, new materials, pharmaceuticals and internet-related services.

The bank's cleantech incubator, formed with the US Department of Energy three years ago, will also expand its interest to transport, sustainable agriculture and the microgrid.

Having raised more than $150m, the new incubator will now focus on selecting startups.

Energy transmission operator Tennet has joined a list of limited partners for Set Ventures' second fund that already includes Shell, Essent and PZEM.