Deadline: 31 August 2025
The Merck Foundation is offering a series of research grants to stimulate innovative research in challenging areas of future importance.
In the first stage of the Research Grants applications process, applicants submit their application containing non-confidential information only. You may apply for more than one grant or submit your application for more than one category. If your application is successful, you are invited to submit a full proposal under confidentiality and join a deep-dive workshop. All applicants are informed about the decision of the selection committee.
The second stage of the Research Grant process is a collaborative step, the deep-dive workshop. Finalists submit their full proposals and then work together with Merck managers and scientists to jointly optimize submitted project proposals. All teams reaching this stage will be informed in October. The deep-dive workshops are currently scheduled to take place in November 2025. The culmination of the deep-dive workshops will be the selection of the research grant winners.
The third stage of the Research Grants process is the Research Grant funding phase. To enable pay-out and project start, Merck enters into bilateral collaboration agreements with the winning recipients. Their collaborative Research Grants are a unique opportunity for researchers who are interested in working with Merck‘s scientists and receive guidance from industry. During the Research Grant funding period, there will therefore be regular meetings with Merck scientists.
Funding Information
- Grants of up to 500,000 € per year for up to 3 years have been made available. In 2025, grants are available in the area as further specified below:
- Smart Consumables for Digital Integration in Biomanufacturing Processes – one grant of up to 120,000 EUR per year for up to three years with potential further collaboration.
- Multi-Purpose Microphysiological Systems – grant to be negotiated on a case by case basis.
Eligible Projects
- Your proposal should include:
- A high-level concept with a description of features and technologies
- Proposed integration point of the proposed smart downstream consumable with the digital architecture of the facility
- Examples of the data that can be provided or gathered by the smart consumable and its influence on the control and characterization of the manufacturing process
Eligibility Criteria
- The Merck research grants program is open to scientists in all career stages who are affiliated with any research-based institution, university or company.
Application Requirements
- Submitted proposals should include descriptions of:
- Your existing demonstrated capabilities in your proposed research grant area utilizing MPS technology
- The potential for significant impact in drug development or disease modeling
- Your research should be suitable for potential publication in a peer-reviewed journals.
For more information, visit Merck Foundation.
