The partnership between Merck and the venture firm, follows the pharmaceutical company partnering with venture firm Lumira and fund of funds Teralys Capital last month.

Cisco Systems reportedly makes a big research and development push into Brazil, including plans for a venture fund.

Burrill & Company identified more than $2.6bn in expected funding through nine healthcare initiatives announced since the end of February to end-March.

Alibaba has also created AliVenture, another corporate venturing unit with a team of 16 to 20 investment professionals, according to news provider Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ).

Loyola University Maryland partners with Wasabi Ventures on an accelerator, strenthening the ties between the firm and the university.

The Phillippines' Globe Telecom launches incubator Kickstart Ventures.

India-based seed fund Kae Capital, led by Sasha Mirchandani (pictured), formerly BlueRun Ventures' India head, reportedly raises $25m with venture firm and fund of funds backing.

Formerly known as ATP Capital, Relay Ventures will manage the BlackBerry Partners II fund, with investors - called limited partners - from Canada-based Northleaf Capital Partners, Research In Motion (the maker of the Blackberry phone), Corus Entertainment and Thomson Reuters.