Industrial

The power of imagination is keeping old and new industrial groups developing through corporate venturing.

Chile leads South America as an region trying to change the world through innovation rather than revolution.

Global Corporate Venturing editor James Mawson was a conference advisory board member at the IBF 13th Annual Corporate Venturing and Innovation Partnering conference February 16-18, 2011. (see quotes at bottom of article.)

David Teten, chief executive of Teten Advisors, with Chris Farmer, venture partner at General Catalyst Partners, make five recommendations to improve the volume and relevance of dealflow.

A round up of all the deals from February 2011.

The full review of 2010's events.

French engineering companies Alstom and Schneider Electric formed Aster in January last year out of Schneider Electric Ventures and has now added Rhodia as the third cornerstone limited partner in the latest fund.

The factory will cost RMB1bn, according to news provider Shanghai Securities News, citing a company filing between Jiangsu Aucksun Metal has linked up its RMB30m ($5m) Dingshun Venture Capital subsidiary.

SEB Ventures led the round for Mobile Tag alongside XAnge Private Equity, the corporate venturing unit of France's main post office, and investment firm Alven Capital.

French glass and construction materials company Saint-Gobain has invested $80m for a minority stake in Sage Electrochromics, a US-based maker of tinted windows.

Aria Systems has now raised $34m in its three rounds since 2003 after latest funding.