Applications are now open for the 2025 Merck Group Innovation Cup. 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. Innovation.

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

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.

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.

Benefits of Merck Foundation Innovation Cup For Postgraduate Students

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.

Requirements for Merck Foundation Innovation Cup For Postgraduate Students

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.

Application Deadline

January 31, 2025

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to https://www.merckgroup.com/en/research/open-innovation/innovation-cup/application.html to apply