ABB Technology Ventures joined Persimmon's existing investors Intel Capital and Nidec Sankyo and helped the industrial technology producer to complete a $14m series B.

3M has invested an undisclosed amount in MSi Lighting, a US-based company that offers an alternative to traditional halogen light bulbs.

Corporate venturing units in the industrials sector continued to forge ahead over the past year. Because it was a busy period for GE Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the US-based industrial conglomerate, we have again named it the most influential group in the sector, as it puts its $150m annual venturing commitment to work.

Chrysalix EVC, a clean energy firm backed by a mixture of private equity firms and energy companies, such as EDF, has made 11 early stage follow-on investments over the past year, signalling continued growth opportunities in the clean tech sector.

UCLA spin-out Water Planet Engineering enters into joint development agreement with 3M on polymer material.

Leeds spin-out Xeros intends to take near-waterless washing machine technology to AIM.

The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology launches $30m seed fund.