Next Accelerator Program By Merck Opens Application Phase In 2019

Startups can now apply for the Accelerator Program at the Merck Innovation Center in Darmstadt. Focus is on three fields: bio-sensing & interfaces, liquid biopsy technologies and clean meat. Selected startups receive up to 50,000 euros as well as access to internal resources and Merck’s global network

Merck, a leading science and technology company, opened the application phase for startups to participate in the Merck Accelerator Program. This will take place at the company’s Innovation Center at its headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany. The Accelerator Program connects startups to innovation projects of Merck and its three business sectors for co-development and sustainable business partnerships.

For a period of three months, startups receive financial support of up to € 50,000. In addition, they benefit from intensive coaching from over 50,000 experts from the global Merck network. The founders also receive mentoring from Merck’s top management, and get access and connections to internal resources, including knowledge, expertise and market access. Besides this, startups also receive coaching sessions and gain increased visibility by attending inspirational and renowned events in the startup ecosystem.

During the Merck Accelerator, up to 12 startups will have access to the workplaces in the futuristic Merck Innovation Center, including the prototyping facilities in the so-called Makerspace. At the same time, another accelerator program has been launched at the China Innovation Hub in Shanghai. Both accelerator programs will run simultaneously from mid-January to April 2020. After the programs, selected startups will have the opportunity to extend their stay either in China or in Darmstadt. Applications for both programs are now open until August 25, 2019.

The #MerckInnovationCenter and @rigaku, a key player in scientific analytical instrumentation, will jointly develop lab solutions employing a game-changing technology that enables chemical structure analysis on sub-microgram scale using an instant crystal https://t.co/x1n46dOeD8 pic.twitter.com/2MhDksjjFp

— Merck (@merckgroup) June 6, 2019

Focus of the Accelerator Program

Besides the core areas of Merck research in Healthcare, Life Science and Performance Materials, the main focus of the Merck Accelerator is to partner with startups in the company’s innovation fields:

– Biosensing & Interfaces: technologies to interface between the biological and digital world

– Liquid BiopsyTechnologies: solutions to overcome challenges in the liquid biopsy workflow

– Clean Meat: enabling technology required to produce clean meat

Win-Win-Situation for startups and Merck

“We generate new business by driving innovation beyond what we are currently doing,” said Isabel De Paoli, Chief Strategy Officer at Merck. “Collaborating with startups around the globe via the Merck Accelerator offers the exciting opportunity to create a win-win situation for both the startups and Merck. They gain access to a strong partner with a lot of experience in partnerships that helps them to accelerate their industry-ready business, whereas we obtain fresh stimulus to drive innovation beyond our current activities. Joining forces can create an impact in tackling the challenges of humanity.”

“We have a lot of experience in partnering with startups. To make collaboration happen, we ensure startups the right connections within Merck,” added Michael Gamber, Head of Merck Innovation Center. “The last intake of the Merck Accelerator at the Innovation Center was incredibly successful and 90% of the startups are either collaborating or in negotiations to partner with us.”

So far, 51 startups have already participated in the Merck Accelerator program at the Innovation Center since the first intake in 2015. For example, iXensor, a startup alumni that recently completed from the Merck Accelerator program at the Innovation Center in April, is one of the startups that reached a collaboration with Merck to gain initial access to the African market. The Taiwanese startup conducted a first successful pilot test at Merck CURAFATM points of care in Kenya and provided its latest technology devices to support an initiative that seeks to improve primary healthcare access for the local underserved population in emerging economies.

For more information and applications, click here:
https://www.merckgroup.com/en/research/innovation-center/accelerator.html

About the Merck Innovation Center

Complementing research and development in the company‘s business sectors, the Merck Innovation Centersupports the scaling of new businesses beyond the company’s current scope. With its initiatives, creative working environment and culture of openness and exchange, the Innovation Center connects employees, startups and companies to create groundbreaking innovations.

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About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 52,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2018, Merck generated sales of € 14.8 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials.