The main categories for capital investments include commercial stage biopharmaceutical and medical device companies in need of growth capital, and universities/inventors looking to monetize product interests.

OUP is a multi-stage fund that invests in start-ups from more than 40 universities and in January last year held its final closing on its inaugural fund at $100m having already invested in 16 companies.

The medical diagnostics company, which specialises in cancer treatments, has closed its series A round with investors including Aeris Capital, the venture firm set up by a SAP co-founder.

Sanofi helps launch genome research company in the latest tie-up between a big pharmaceutical company and the venture industry.

US-based Akebia, which develops treatments for blood cell deficiency disease anemia, has raised a further $4.1m in series B funding, bringing its total financing for the round to more than $26m.

30% of CEOs in the sector say they would tap corporate venture capital as a finance source in the next 12 months, versus 10% who did so in the past 12 months.