In a survey of 50 of the UK's largest quoted companies, Edengene, a corporate venturing consultancy, says nearly two thirds of FTSE 100 companies are planning to increase their investment in corporate venturing. In 2000 around £5bn (&euro5.5bn) was committed to it.

Innovation, consistency and organic growth are the buzz words surrounding corporate venturing and there is an enormous amount of money at stake to make sure corporates stick to the script, according to Edengene.