Aliad, the corporate venturing subsidiary of France-based industrial gases provider Air Liquide Group, has made its first commitment to a China-focused fund targeting the energy transition.
Cathay Smart Energy Fund had already received backing from oil and gas supplier Total’s Carbon Neutrality Ventures unit, shipping services firm CMA CGM, Hubei Provincial High Technology Industry Investment Group and Wuhan Jingkai Industry Investment Fund Management.
The fund was set up by investment manager Cathay Capital in 2018 and focuses on energy platforms, energy storage, smart grid, hydrogen energy, clean transportation, renewable energy and low-carbon technologies.
The first investment to be made by Cathay Smart Energy Fund was in China-based industrial internet-of-things technology developer Allsense Technology.
Aliad takes minority stakes in innovative technology startups in three sectors: energy transition, health and digital. Since its creation in 2013, it has made more than 35 investments globally for a total commitment of about €100m ($113m).
