Merck China Innovation Center Launches 2020 Research Funding Program Targeting Pandemic Preparedness, Drug Discovery, Cultivated Meat Bioreactors, and Next-Gen Machine Learning

Shanghai, March 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 18, 2020, Merck KGaA, a leading global science and technology company, announced its 2020 Innovation Research Funding Program. The initiative aims to encourage and inspire innovative research in a range of highly significant and challenging future fields. It will provide funding for up to three years, ranging from €100,000 to €500,000 per year, focusing on areas including pandemic preparedness or combating emerging viral infections, drug discovery, bioreactor design for cultured meat, and next-generation machine learning.

Global Challenge: Pandemic Preparedness or Combating Emerging Viral Infectious Diseases

The threat of emerging viral infections is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity worldwide. The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in China has demonstrated that it is critical to prepare for large-scale epidemics and to combat infectious diseases with epidemic, or even pandemic, potential using appropriate products and technologies. This necessitates swift action to mitigate further severe damage to society, the economy, and the ecosystem. How can modern technologies be leveraged to create novel, breakthrough solutions to prepare for this unique yet far-reaching scenario? What breakthrough solutions can help combat new viral infections and prevent their transmission?

Ms. Sun Zhengjie, Managing Director of the Merck China Innovation Center and Vice President of Strategy and Transformation at Merck China, stated: “The impact of the novel coronavirus has served as a warning, highlighting that preventing and combating infectious diseases with pandemic potential will become a critical issue for human society in the future. As an innovation-driven science and technology company, Merck remains committed to making a positive impact on people’s lives through innovation. We recognize this responsibility and, through the 2020 funding program of the Merck China Innovation Center, aim to collaborate with startups, academic institutions, and industry professionals to inspire and advance creative ideas, thereby identifying practical and effective solutions.”

Call for Research Projects

In the field of pandemic preparedness or combating emerging viral infectious diseases, the Merck China Innovation Center will provide funding of up to €250,000 per year for a period of three years (with the option to extend). Research grants will prioritize solutions that leverage technological innovations to better prepare for pandemic outbreaks or to help combat emerging viral infections.

For more information on the application process and details, please visit:researchgrants.merckgroup.com

In addition to research funding programs, Merck also launched the 2020 Research Challenge, encouraging the scientific community and partners to actively participate and establish new models of collaboration. As a leading science and technology company, Merck firmly believes that curiosity drives human progress. The Merck China Innovation Center is committed to human development, daring to break down boundaries between existing businesses, exploring new frontiers, investing in and incubating new opportunities, and fully dedicating itself to research and innovation aimed at safeguarding human health and improving lives. This aligns with the Merck China Innovation Center’s motto: “We dare to innovate because we are willing to create. Curious and fearless, willing to create for shared success.”