Global University Venturing

The university has reportedly backed an oversubscribed $1.5bn buyout vehicle launched by Arcline aiming to take over eight-to-10 mid-market companies.

Robert Bahns has stepped down as technology partner at IP Group to become chief financial officer at one of the firm’s portfolio businesses, WaveOptics.

Sofinnova Partners and New Enterprise Associates have co-led an oversubscribed series A round for Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals, spun out of University of Basel.

Goethe University Frankfurt has spun out Vivlion to commercialise a library of the human genome that could drive the development of more Crispr therapies.

IT Inkubator at University of Saarland will open its program to researchers across Germany, who will however have to join the existing facilities in Saarbrücken.

QUT Bluebox has joined corporates Holland Insurance and Seven West Media in the second funding round for over-60s package holiday portal Starts at 60.

An industrial biotech initiative co-led by University of Strathclyde has received UK government funding to prepare an application to the UKRI’s competitive Strength in Places program.

Sana has emerged with funding from investors including F-Prime Capital, Arch and Flagship Pioneering to develop genetically modified hypoimmogenic stem cells.

OUI’s first social enterprise spinout, Sophia Oxford, will implement a multidimensional poverty index and standards intended to help corporates respond to the needs of workforces.

Cosmian has secured backing from the PSL Innovation Fund to advance products based on inventions from multiple French research institutes including PSL-hosted Inria.

The firm posted its half-year results for the period ending December 2018, registering an 83% year-on-year rise in turnover and a 43% gain in the fair value of its portfolio.