The Merck Group Innovation Cup for Students brings together top students from around the globe. Hosted by the Merck Group, a leading science and technology company, this competition aims to foster innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship among talented individuals.
During the Innovation Cup, participants engage in an intensive program held at the company’s headquarters. They have the opportunity to interact with professionals from various fields within Merck, gaining valuable insights and mentorship. Teams of students work together to identify unmet medical needs and develop innovative solutions to address these challenges.
The competition culminates in the presentation of business plans by the participating teams. These plans are meticulously crafted with guidance from industry experts, aiming to demonstrate not only innovative ideas but also their viability as potential business ventures.
The Merck Group generously offers substantial prizes to recognize the top-performing teams. The winning team receives a significant cash prize, while the runner-up and the third-place team also receive monetary awards. Additionally, outstanding participants may be considered for permanent employment opportunities within Merck.
Beyond the monetary rewards, the Innovation Cup serves as a platform for students to showcase their talents, build international networks, and potentially see their innovative ideas come to fruition through the implementation of the most promising business plans. The Merck Group Innovation Cup stands as a testament to Merck’s commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the next generation of leaders in science, technology, and entrepreneurship.
The brightest students from all over the world meet at Merck Group headquarters to learn from professionals, network, develop business plans and win the 20,000 EUR. Apply now to join 42 international students at the Innovation Cup summer camp taking place 19-25 July, 2025, near Frankfurt, Germany.
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 KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and learn about career options
Eligibility Requirements For The Merck Group Innovation Cup for Postgraduate Students Worldwide
- Applications are from postgraduate students in the life sciences working towards a PhD in biology, medicine, biotech, bioinformatics, computer science, data science, biochemistry, chemistry, pharmacy, engineering or related fields.
- Postdoctoral students are also welcome to apply, as are advanced MBA students or recent MBA graduates with an interest in the pharmaceutical business and a background in life sciences.
- This programme is not open to healthcare professionals.
Program Details
- As a participant in Merck Group 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 customer needs, and build a business case with support from experienced professionals.
Benefits
- 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. And to make things even more interesting, options to implement the best business plans will be evaluated.
- The Innovation Cup summer camp takes place 19-25 July, 2025, near Frankfurt, Germany. Your travel, accommodation and food expenses are paid for by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
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 Merck biopharmaceuticals division.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025.
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