Merck Group Innovation Cup 2024 for Young Students Worldwide (Prize: €20,000 and Fully Funded Trip to Darmstadt, Germany)

Participating in our Innovation Cup offers you the chance to connect with outstanding students worldwide. Working collaboratively in teams, you’ll devise innovative solutions for unmet medical needs, creating a business case with guidance from experienced professionals.

The victorious team is eligible for a shared prize of €20,000, while the runner-up receives €5,000 and the third-place team is awarded €3,000. Exceptional participants may even be considered for permanent positions at Merck. The prospect of implementing the best business plans adds an extra layer of excitement to the experience.

The Innovation Cup summer camp is scheduled for July 20-26, 2024, near Frankfurt, Germany. Merck covers your travel, accommodation, and food expenses for the duration of the event.

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Merck Group Innovation 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, immuno-oncology, autoimmunity, small molecules drug discovery, protein engineering and screening, digitalization.
- 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 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.

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

Who can apply Merck Group Innovation?

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.

DEADLINE: 31 January 2024