Since 2018, we are offering a series of research grants to stimulate innovative research in challenging areas of future importance. 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.

Submission deadline 31 August 2025.  

The research grants program is open to scientists in all career stages who are affiliated with any research-based institution, university or company.

In the first stage of the Research Grants applications process, applicants submit their application containing non-confidential information only. You may submit more than one proposal. 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 our 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, we enter into bilateral collaboration agreements with the winning recipients. Our collaborative Research Grants are a unique opportunity for researchers who are interested in working with our scientists and receive guidance from industry. During the Research Grant funding period, there will therefore be regular meetings with our scientists. 

Biomanufacturers are focused on enhancing the digital maturity of their processes and facilities by adopting advanced automation, data analytics, knowledge management, and modeling tools, as outlined in the BioPhorum Digital Plant Maturity Model [1].

While life science suppliers have been creating new software, automation technologies, sensors, and analytical tools, the consumables used in these processes are still largely "analog”.

At Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, we conduct research into scalable and modular smart consumables [2] that interact with their digital environment and improve the efficiency of our customer’s purification processes and reduce errors. We are looking to fund a proposal to develop a concept and working prototype for smart downstream consumables, such as filters and chromatography media or devices. This research grant has a clear focus on features such as digital data capture and transfer, enhanced supply chain integration, and/or seamless incorporation into digital twins, process models, and automation systems.

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

[1] https://www.biophorum.com/download/digital-plant-maturity-model-3-0/

[2] A smart consumable in the context biomanufacturing refers to a consumable with embedded digital connected features designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of a biomanufacturing process.

Ensuring the safety and efficacy of new drugs is critical to delivering impactful therapies that benefit patients. To achieve this, billions of dollars are spent annually by the pharmaceutical industry to bring a novel drug to the market. One of the key reasons for these inefficiencies is the poor translatability of the models currently used for predicting drug toxicity, ADME properties and efficacy during the pre-clinical phase. Indeed, underlying gaps and discrepancies between the biology of in vitro assays and in vivoanimal models with the clinical reality of patients' physiopathology has led to inaccurate selection and prioritization of compound development.

At Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, we are working to develop world class human-based MicroPhysiological Systems (MPS) that can materially improve translatability and reduce the usage of animals in the testing of drug and chemical compounds. We invite innovative research proposals that will join us in this transformative journey to redefine the predictability of drug safety and efficacy to bring better life-changing drugs to patients.

We are particularly interested in:

• Novel development of Cardiac, Brain (including Blood-Brain Barrier), and Lung models, both iPSC and Patient Derived Organoid based
• Applications including but extending beyond toxicology to include absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) as well as efficacy models (specifically in relation to Oncology and Neuroinflammation diseases).
• AI model development of human-based MPS systems using data from existing MPS models and/or newly developed MPS models

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

We are offering up to 1 grant that provides access to applicable areas of our MPS technology platform, along with collaboration opportunities with our scientists and partners.