Computer server company Cisco Systems is reportedly preparing to invest $200m over the next three to five years in corporate venturing in India.
In an interview with news provider Economic Times of India, Joydeep Bose, director of corporate business development investments and acquisitions at Cisco, said: "We aim to invest $200m over the next three to five years in India. It is a statement of intent and not a fund or allocation.
"Besides providing operational and technology capabilities, we also do these investments for learning the trends in emerging markets."
Alongside foreign firms, such as Intel Capital with its $250m India Technology Fund and International Data Group, Indian firms Reliance ADAG Group and Aditya Birla Group have been setting up corporate venturing funds, Economic Times added.
Bharat Banka, chief executive of Aditya Birla Private Equity, told the paper: "In markets like India, the concept [of corporate venture capital] has been fairly nascent, with a history of less than a decade and fewer examples of success. This will develop as the economy starts growing in size, and the concept gains more acceptance along with its discipline."