Deadline:
January 31, 2025
Program Starts: July 19, 2025
Program Ends: July 25, 2025
Location(s)
Germany
Frankfurt
Overview
The Innovation Cup brings together a promising new generation of academic talents from the natural sciences, computer sciences, and business administration with Merck senior management, active researchers, and accomplished retirees. This meeting of minds is a creative and innovative platform aimed at advancing science and technology. The 2025 Innovation Cup will comprise teams of 42 international students working on the following topics: oncology, neuroscience & immunology, drug discovery, green chemistry, digital health, smart manufacturing and neuro-inspired AI inference acceleration.
The Innovation Cup summer camp takes place 19-25 July, 2025, near Frankfurt, Germany, organized by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Your travel, accommodation and food expenses are paid for by Merck.
Details
GREAT MINDS COME TOGETHER AT MERCK KGaA, DARMSTADT, GERMANY
As a participant in our Innovation Cup, you get a chance to network with top students from around the world, work in teams to develop new innovative ideas for unmet medical need, and build a business case with support from experienced professionals. We are offering shared prizes of €20,000 for the winning team, €5,000 for the runner-up and €3,000 for third place. Selected top performing participants could get an offer for a permanent employment at Merck. And to make things even more interesting, options to implement the best business plans will be evaluated.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
As part of the Innovation Cup, selected applicants join a week-long summer camp, to work together in a highly stimulating environment.
- Work as part of a team to generate new ideas in the fields: Oncology, Neuroscience & Immunology, Drug Discovery, Green Chemistry, Digital Health, Smart Manufacturing, Neuroinspired AI inference acceleration.
- Evaluate your ideas from a technical and business perspective and build a convincing business plan
- Learn the essentials about R&D within the pharmaceutical industry
- Network with the brightest students from all over the world
- Understand how products can be successfully discovered, developed, and brought to market
- Get to know Merck and learn about career options
A jury consisting of senior Merck researchers and managers as well as external experts will pick the winning business plans for first and second place.
On the first day of the summer camp, a conference with alumni of previous Innovation Cup editions will be organized. Learn what alumni are doing today and expand your network of top innovators.
Following the Innovation Cup, options to implement the best business plans are evaluated. We will keep you posted.
Travel, accommodation and food expenses are paid for by Merck.
This program is not open to healthcare professionals. Merck retains exclusive right to make any press release or any kind of public communication about the Innovation Cup winner(s).
TEAMS
At the Innovation Cup, several teams run in parallel, covering the areas described below. Based on interest and expertise, participants choose the fields they are most interested in. We look forward to meeting you soon!
- ONCOLOGY: Work on new innovative approaches for the targeted treatment of cancer with small molecules or proteins either directly attacking cancer cells or via stimulating the immune system and overcoming the immunosuppressive environment of tumors
- NEUROSCIENCE & IMMUNOLOGY: The team will work on innovative approaches for the treatment of immune-mediated neurological diseases and rheumatological diseases of high unmet need.
- DRUG DISCOVERY: The team will work on innovative approaches to discover, screen, design and optimize new small molecular drugs or protein or nucleic-acid based drugs and their formulations.
- GREEN CHEMISTRY: The team will work on innovative algorithms and software tools for optimizing the design of greener chemicals and production processes.
- DIGITAL HEALTH: The team will work on innovative "around the drug" solutions and approachs to support treatment success and increase health outcomes.
- SMART MANUFACTURING: The team will work on innovative approaches for AI-driven energy saving, digital twins for manufacturing process optimization and top notch digitalization and automation solutions.
- NEURO-INSPIRED AI INFERENCE ACCELERATION: The team will work on AI inference using digital dataflow computing architectures, emerging memories and/or algorithmic innovations.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Application Deadline: January 31, 2025. You may apply for more than one team.
- Notification: Applicants will be informed about next steps by early March 2025.
- Idea Submission: Selected applicants will be invited to submit ideas by early April 2025.
- Team Selection: Team assignments will be finalized by early May 2025.
- Event Dates: The summer camp takes place from July 19-25 2025, near Frankfurt, Germany, with all travel, accommodation, and food expenses covered by Merck.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Who can apply:
Merck invites advanced students in the natural sciences, computer sciences, and business administration from all over the world to apply to participate in the Innovation Cup. 42 students will be selected:
- Sciences: Postgraduate students in the natural or computer sciences on their way towards a PhD or working as a postdoc in biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, biotech, bioinformatics, biochemistry, pharmacy, informatics, computer science, data science, engineering, or related fields.
- Business: Advanced MBA students or recent MBA graduates with an interest in the pharmaceutical, chemical or digital business. Not open to healthcare professionals.
Not open to healthcare professionals.
Dates
Deadline: January 31, 2025
Program starts:
July 19, 2025
Program ends:
July 25, 2025
Program Starts: July 19, 2025
Program Ends: July 25, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
SEIZE YOUR CHANCE!
Participating in the Innovation Cup is a unique professional development opportunity for students from life science, computer science and business administration with an interest in the pharmaceutical industry. The event brings together a promising new generation of talent with active researchers, members of senior management and accomplished retirees from our biopharmaceuticals division.
YOUR BENEFITS
Enjoy the innovation experience of a lifetime! The winning team is awarded the Innovation Cup and a shared prize of €20,000! The runner-up receives a shared prize of €5,000 with €3,000 for third place. In the following, options to implement the best business plans will be evaluated. The Cup is also a great opportunity to network and boost your professional development. On the last day of the summer camp, a conference with alumni of previous Innovation Cup editions will be organized. Learn what alumni are doing today and expand your network of top innovators.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
