Anniversary Edition
Innovation Cup
In 2018, we celebrated our 350th anniversary. 75 participants came to Darmstadt for a special anniversary edition of the Innovation Cup (July 16-24, 2018). In this edition, the anniversary cup which normally runs in Healthcare only, was extended for the first time to Life Science, Performance Materials, Digitalisation, new ways of working together/building a better world.
Anniversary Cup 2018
In 2018, we celebrated our 350th anniversary at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. On this occasion, we conducted a special expanded anniversary edition of the Innovation Cup with 75 participants in Darmstadt, Germany (July 16-24, 2018). This Innovation Cup covers not only the field of healthcare, but also life science and performance materials, digitalisation, new ways of working together/building a better world.
As part of the Innovation Cup, participants attended the Curious2018 Future Insight Conference.
Following the Curious2018 Future Insight conference, participants joined the Innovation Cup boot camp where they worked together in small teams in a highly stimulating environment. Convincing business plans were developed under the guidance of executives and team coaches, considering both technical and business perspectives.
A jury, consisting of top scientists and entrepreneurs, selected the best business plan in each of the five focus fields and awarded each winning team with EUR 5.000. From these, the jury selected the overall winner of the Anniversary Cup 2018 with a prize of EUR 20.000.
Grand final
The Innovation Cup 2018 grand final took place on July 24th, 2018, where all teams pitched their business plans.
Impressions of the Grand Final
"The Innovation Cup really hit the ideal balance between education (for the students) and implementation (generating ideas for us and others). The Innovation Cup was an excellent opportunity to network, learn, and grow as a scientist. Thank you so much."
"Learn from some of the brightest minds in industry and academia. "
Anniversary Innovation Cup Participant 2018
"Thank you so much for organizing this wonderful event and for giving me a chance to participate! It created this very special and rare team spirit, which makes almost anything possible."
"The amount of learning and positive experiences I have gained is difficult to put into words."
Anniversary Innovation Cup Participant 2018
Teams
Our teams: Healthy Lives, Materials & Solutions, Life Reimagined, Vibrant Digital and Bright Future.
learn more about this year's teams
Healthy Lives
Work on new healthcare approaches covering unmet medical need for the benefit of patients in areas such as oncology, autoimmune diseases, and beyond.
Learn more about this year's teams
Materials & Solutions
Work on new, innovative ideas to develop the next enabling breakthrough materials for the future along with game changing applications.
learn about this year's teams
Vibrant Digital
Develop proposals to leverage the power of in-silico, machine learning, cognitive computing, big data, and augmented reality to make great things happen.
learn about this year's teams
Bright Future
Develop transformative ideas and new ways of working and collaborating to boost the ability of organizations and humanity to create a bright future for humankind.
learn about this year's teams
Life Reimagined
Develop ideas using synthetic biology for technologies that can correct genetic defects to cure, reprogram stem cells to heal injuries, probe the mysteries of the microbiome.
learn about this year's teams
"Learning, innovating, networking, having fun and winning – the Innovation Cup is the chance for graduate students to make a difference!"
Dr. Ulrich Betz
Vice President, Department Head Innovation & Entrepreneurship Incubator
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Innovation Cup Inventor and Manager
Future Insight Conference
Participants of the Anniversary Cup attended the Curious2018 conducted on the occasion of our 350th anniversary in 2018. The curious 2020 Future Insight Conference is currently pre-registering for tickets.
Curious 2020 Website
Awards
International Business Awards
International Business Awards
International Stevie Awards 2018
Edison Awards
Edison Awards
Edison Awards 2017 Winner
German Stevie Awards
German Stevie Awards
2017 Stevie Gold Winner
Innovationspreis der deutschen Wirtschaft
Innovationspreis der deutschen Wirtschaft
Innovationspreis der deutschen Wirtschaft Winner 2015
Deutscher Ideen-Preis
Deutscher Ideen-Preis
Deutscher Ideen-Preis International Idea 2014
Contact us!
Innovation Cup Team