Merck-Zhangjiang AI Healthcare Innovation Lab Files Prospectus to Advance AI-Driven Medical Solutions

YiguNews: On December 20, 2019, Merck KGaA and the national-level incubator Vπ Zhangjiang Incubator held a signing ceremony for the “Joint Establishment of the Merck-Zhangjiang AI Healthcare Innovation Laboratory” at Shanghai Zhangjiang International Innovation Park. Both parties will actively leverage and utilize Zhangjiang’s artificial intelligence innovation ecosystem and bio-Pharmaceuticalsplatform, jointly building sustainable AI projects and partnerships.

Witnessed by Xu Minxu, Deputy Director of the Pudong New Area Science and Technology Commission, and Wu Qiang, Full-time Deputy Director of the Shanghai Office for Promoting the Construction of a Global Science and Technology Innovation Center, Sun Zhengjie, Managing Director of Merck China Innovation Center, and Lu Jia, Executive Deputy General Manager of Zhangjiang Incubator, signed an agreement to jointly establish the “Merck-Zhangjiang AI Healthcare Innovation Lab.” Both parties will actively leverage the industrial expertise and innovative resources of multinational corporations, make full use of the agglomeration effects of Zhangjiang’s biopharmaceutical sector, and support innovative enterprises focused on applying artificial intelligence technologies to enhance diagnostic efficiency, empower clinical research, and develop digital therapeutics that complement or even replace existing pharmacological treatments.

On the day of the signing, during the “Release of Innovation Needs by Large Enterprises” session, Dr. Zhang Youchun, Deputy Director of Merck China Innovation Center, introduced the current innovation areas of interest to the Merck China Innovation Center, including AI-enabled healthcare solutions, liquid biopsy technologies, biosensors and interactive interfaces, and cultured meat, among other frontier innovation domains both within and beyond Merck’s existing business portfolio.

Currently, Zhangjiang not only hosts a large cluster of local innovative enterprises but also attracts numerous multinational corporations and industry leaders that have established innovation and R&D centers in the area. Meanwhile, Zhangjiang possesses considerable innovation and industrial strength in fields such as digital information, life and health, and artificial intelligence. In promoting integrated development among large, medium-sized, and small enterprises, Zhangjiang Science City holds distinct advantages.

China boasts the most vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, with thousands of startups emerging annually, many of which possess cutting-edge innovative technologies. As a leading technology company that prioritizes innovation as its core development strategy, Merck KGaA has accumulated profound expertise and industry insights in healthcare, life sciences, high-performance materials, and other emerging technological fields. The Merck China Innovation Center closely integrates with China’s innovation ecosystem to identify, incubate, and invest in promising innovative technologies and opportunities. AI-enabled healthcare solutions represent one of the key focus areas for the Merck China Innovation Center. Through the Merck-Zhangjiang AI Innovation Healthcare Lab, the center aims to support high-potential startups in developing and applying artificial intelligence technologies, thereby influencing the entire value chain of the healthcare and health industries through value-added empowerment.

About Merck China Innovation Center

Merck China Innovation Center is an integral part of Merck’s global innovation network, dedicated to scouting, incubating, and investing in innovative opportunities within and across its core sectors—Healthcare, Life Science, Performance Materials—as well as beyond its existing business domains. Rooted in China’s innovation ecosystem, the Merck China Innovation Center actively fosters partnerships with startups, academic institutions, industry partners, and local governments. By integrating Merck Group’s and its partners’ unique technologies and expertise in their respective fields, the center develops innovative technologies to deliver new solutions for the Chinese market and Merck’s global operations. Simultaneously, it provides inspiration, cultivation, and incubation support for local innovative talent, partners, and Merck employees, achieving win-win collaboration. For more information about the Merck China Innovation Center, please visit innovateinchina.merckgroup.com.