The $21.9m in funding will enable Red Balloon Security, based on research at Columbia University, to increase its business operations.

KU Leuven returned for the automated DNA diagnostic spinout's series A round, which follows a $2.3m round in 2016 and $1.5m raised in 2015.

Nanosatellite internet of things technology developer Myriota has attracted $15m in series A funding from investors co-led by Main Sequence Ventures.

Aarhus University spinout NMD Pharma, which focuses on therapies for neuromuscular conditions, has attracted the support of several corporates for its $47m series A round.

The Johns Hopkins spinout will funnel the cash into developing a class of glutamine antagonist that could help treat cancer.

OSU spinout Agility Robotics has raised $8m for robotic legs that are set to enhance the usefulness of robots for military or courier purposes.

Monsanto Growth Ventures has co-led the first round disclosed by Pairwise Plants, an agricultural gene-editing company based on Harvard University research.

Illumina Ventures has led a series A1 round for Cernostics, a cancer diagnostics company that has now raised $13m from backers including UPMC Enterprises.

Stanford-StartX Fund-backed TwoXar has added $10m in funding to its coffers thanks to SoftBank Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and OS Fund.