Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Presents Its First Russian Literary Prize

• Three translators recognized for promoting cultural exchange
• Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, grants five literary prizes worldwide

Moscow, Russia, September 30, 2016 – Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, presented the first Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Translation Award yesterday evening in Moscow. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany established the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Translation Award in cooperation with the Goethe Institut of Russia for translations of German literature into Russian. This reflects both the company's commitment to literature promotion as part of its social responsibility as well as its centuries-old tradition of supporting culture.

In his speech at the German ambassador's residence in Moscow, Johannes Baillou, Chairman of the Board of Partners and Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG, Darmstadt, Germany, emphasized the essential role of translators to cultural exchange: "Literature addresses mankind as a whole, thus serving particularly for an international company as a link between people of different nations. Translators play an extremely important role in this. They serve as ambassadors of different cultures."

In the fiction category, the jury of experts recognized Vladislava Agafonova for the translation of Ilma Rakusa's memoirs entitled "Mehr Meer". Kirill Levinson received the award for his translation of the non-fiction work entitled "Geschichtliche Grundbegriffe. Historisches Lexikon zur politisch-sozialen Sprache in Deutschland". In the children’s literature category, Alexandra Gorbova won for her translation of the novel "Tschick" by Wolfgang Herrndorf.

In addition to health and the environment, culture is a strategic sphere of activity of the company’s sustainability efforts. The Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Translation Award is one of five literature prizes that Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, currently awards or promotes worldwide. Building bridges between cultures is also at the forefront of the literature awards in Japan (Kakehashi Prize of Merck Ltd. Japan, a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) and India (Tagore Award of Merck India, a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany). In Germany, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, sponsors the Johann Heinrich Merck Award for Literary Critique and Essay of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. With the Premio Letterario of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, the company recognizes authors in Italy who build bridges between literature and science with their works.