The Merck Innovation Cup Summer Camp 2025 is an exciting opportunity for the brightest minds from around the world to come together, innovate, and network. Scheduled to take place from July 19-25, 2025, near Frankfurt, Germany, this fully funded program invites 42 international students to participate in a week-long summer camp.
Program Overview
Participants will work in teams to develop innovative ideas in fields such as:
Oncology
Neuroscience & Immunology
Drug Discovery
Green Chemistry
Digital Health
Smart Manufacturing
Neuroinspired AI Inference Acceleration.
The goal is to create compelling business plans that address unmet customer needs, with guidance from experienced professionals.
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, 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 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 first 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.
Key Features and Coverage
Fully Funded: Merck covers travel, accommodation, and food expenses.
Competition and Prizes: The winning team will receive a shared prize of €20,000, with €5,000 for the runner-up and €3,000 for third place.
Collaboration and Innovation: Teams will generate new ideas and evaluate them from both technical and business perspectives.
Networking Opportunities: Participants will network with top students from around the world and learn from Merck professionals.
Career Opportunities: Top-performing participants may receive offers for permanent employment at Merck.
Why Participate?
The Merck Innovation Cup Summer Camp offers a unique platform to learn about pharmaceutical R&D, develop business acumen, and explore career paths at Merck. It's an opportunity to turn ideas into impact and make lasting connections with peers and industry professionals.
Eligibility
The program is open to postgraduate students pursuing a PhD in life sciences, including fields such as Biology, Medicine, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Data Science, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Engineering, and related fields. Postdoctoral students, advanced MBA students, and recent MBA graduates with a background in life sciences are also eligible.
Application Process
Interested candidates can submit their applications online by picking their field of focus and teams on this webpage.
🗓️ Application Timeline
Deadline: January 31, 2025.
Results: March 2025
Team assignments: Early May 2025.
🔗 OFFICIAL LINK
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