The founder of the chemical and pharmaceutical company E. Merck in Darmstadt, Heinrich Emanuel Merck (1794–1855), was not just a manufacturer and salesman but also deeply engaged in scientific research. The advanced scientific education he received was highly unusual for the time, reflecting his passion for innovation. In 1816, Heinrich Emanuel Merck took over the Engel Apotheke pharmacy in Darmstadt, which his family had owned since 1668. His groundbreaking experiments to isolate and characterize all of the known alkaloids led to the start of bulk production in 1827, a venture that met with immediate success. In his "Cabinet of pharmaceutical and chemical innovations," Heinrich Emanuel Merck presented 16 alkaloids for scientific experiments, which he shared with fellow experts and doctors. Heinrich Emanuel Merck earned a reputation among his customers for the exceptional purity of the alkaloids he sold.

This spirit of scientific curiosity and innovation inspired the establishment of the Heinrich Emanuel Merck Award. First awarded in 1988, the prize celebrated excellence in analytical chemistry, honoring scientists who developed new analytical methods in chemistry. Since 2025, the award has shifted focus to recognize innovations in computational sciences, reflecting the transformative impact of these fields. The prize now honors and supports researchers advancing Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and Neuro-inspired Computing, all with the goal of enabling scientific discovery for the benefit of humanity. The award includes a fund of 15,000 euros to encourage these groundbreaking efforts.

• Eligibility criteria: Researchers who are developing innovative solution in domains at the forefront of innovation in computing: artificial intelligence, quantum computing, neuro-inspired computing - all with the aim to enable scientific discovery
• Who can apply: Researchers that fit the eligibility criteria. Healthcare Professionals are ineligible for this award. 
• Application documents: Applicants need to fill out an application at our application portal (www.researchgrantsandchallenges.com). Documents include a recent CV and a description of cutting edge research and results (no older than 3 years)
• Award ceremony: The recipients of the Heinrich Emanuel Merck award are asked to present their research at an award ceremony. 
• The award comes with a 15,000 EUR prize. 

The Heinrich Emanuel Merck Award for the Analytical Sciences was conceived in 1988 to recognize research in the analytical sciences. The final award in analytical sciences was awarded in 2022.