Existing investor Corning returned to take part in a round that increased the high-tech glass producer's total funding to about $510m.

GE Ventures has become the founding sponsor of a $20m Pittsburgh-based accelerator aimed at startups developing robotics technologies.

Amusement park attraction designer Simworx will use part of Business Growth Fund's investment to acquire strategic partner RoboCoaster.

Jay Onda has moved from Docomo Capital, where he served as principal, to Yamaha in order to take up a senior position at its corporate venturing division.

Syngenta has been an investor in Illumitex, which produces lighting equipment to help grow plants and vegetation, since they formed a strategic partnership in 2011.

Samsung led a $20m round for the laser producer in 2012, part of the $105m it raised before being bought by Coherent for less than $9m.

CNC equipment maker Altec received $9.3m from Business Growth Fund and returnable transit packaging producer PPS $7.4m.