Intel announced today that its investment arm, Intel Capital, has invested $30 million in four U.S. tech companies. These are Adaptive Computing, Ciranova, Joyent, and Nexant. 

Utah-based Adaptive Computing is a provider of intelligent automation software for high- performance computing (HPC), data center and cloud environments. Intel Capital says Adaptive Computing products manage the world's largest computing installations and are the preferred intelligent automation solutions for the leading global cloud, HPC and data center vendors. Intel Capital’s investment will be used to expand the company's global cloud computing business.

Ciranova provides electronic design software for "mixed analog-digital" integrated circuits in advanced semiconductor processes. Its products are used by semiconductor companies developing large-scale system-on-chip (SoC) ICs for consumer and communications devices such as mobile internet, broadband access, and HD multimedia. The investment will be used primarily to expand the company's sales and customer support operations.

Joyent is a provider of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and runs a major public cloud infrastructure. The investment from Intel will be used to expand international operations and invest in open-source Node.JS and other technologies in the company’s core PaaS cloud offering. Intel Capital has invested in the company in the past as well. 

Finally, Nexant provides intelligent grid software and clean energy solutions, which are used by Fortune 500 companies, utilities, transmission and distribution system operators, chemical and petroleum majors, financial institutions, government agencies and development banks. Intel's investment will be used to expand the company's software and services presence in IT and data center efficiency. 

"A culture of investment is essential to keeping the U.S. on the leading edge of technology innovation and stimulating economic activity," said Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital and Intel executive vice president. "The investments in Adaptive Computing, Ciranova, Joyent and Nexant are the latest examples of Intel Capital's commitment to advance the next technological breakthroughs by supporting innovation across a variety of sectors from chip design to cleantech to the cloud."

Intel Capital has invested over $9.5 billion in over 1,050 companies in 47 countries.