Research Grants

Since 2018, we have been offering research grants to encourage innovation in key areas that will shape the future. Grants of up to 500,000 € per year for up to 3 years have been made available. In 2026, grants are available in the areas further specified below. 

• In-vitro models and assays to identify novel therapies for neuroinflammatory diseases - one grant of up to 250,000 EUR per year for up to 2 years.
• Artificial intelligence in cell culture media and process development - one grant of up to 150,000 EUR per year for up to 3 years.
• Innovative approaches to economical remediation of contaminated high volume materials - one grant of up to 150,000 EUR per year for up to 2 years.
• Condensate-based high-sensitivity cell-free screening assays for the modulation of protein-protein interactions  - one grant of up to 100,000 EUR per year for up to 3 years.
• Advancing molecule synthesis and discovery - up to 3 grants each comprising a 1-year full Synthia® Retrosynthesis Software license, training, and extensive interaction with our scientists.

Submission deadline for the 2026 Research Grants is 31 August 2026.  

The Merck 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 application process, applicants submit their application containing non-confidential information only. You may apply for more than one grant. If your application passes the first evaluation stage 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 proposal and then work together with Merck managers and scientists to jointly optimize their submitted project proposal. All teams reaching this stage will be informed in October. The deep-dive workshops are currently scheduled to take place in November and December 2026. 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, Merck enters into bilateral collaboration agreements with the winning recipients. Our collaborative Research Grants are a unique opportunity for researchers who are interested in working with Merck‘s scientists and receiving guidance from industry. During the Research Grant funding period, there will therefore be regular meetings with Merck scientists. 

Merck invites proposals to develop predictive in-vitro models aimed at identifying and optimizing novel small molecule medicines for human neuroinflammatory diseases.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder affecting more than 10 million people worldwide and roughly 1% of those over 60 years of age [1]. All currently approved treatments are symptomatic, with no disease-modifying therapies available [2]. 

Repeated late-stage failures are largely attributed to the lack of translatability of existing animal models and to the heterogeneity of human pathology [3], highlighting an urgent need for physiologically relevant human-centered in-vitro models.

We are specifically interested in preclinical in-vitro models that:

• recapitulate the cellular microenvironment affected by neuroinflammation
• are amenable to medium-high throughput assays. Examples of these are a co-culture system containing patient iPSC-derived neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and active microglia
• are amenable to pharmacological and genomic manipulations

In your application, please include evidence that your proposed model would recapitulate:

• essential features of the neuro-immune axis, including active microglial-neuronal crosstalk, innate immunocompetence, and dynamic responses to several inflammatory stimuli
• readouts could be quantification of cytokines, morphological changes and (neurotoxic) protein aggregation

We are offering one grant of up to 250,000 EUR per year for up to 2 years with the possibility of further collaboration. 

[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10051786/

[2] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00702-023-02641-6

[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353802016304631

In this category, we invite proposals for robust, host-agnostic, and easy to parameterize models, that enable us to more quickly develop fit-for-purpose solutions for the optimization of bioprocesses for a broad base of host organisms.

In order to predict optimized media feeds for bioprocessing, we aim to use mechanistic and/or hybrid modeling to better understand the nutrient requirements of mammalian cell lines. However, although some advances have been recently demonstrated, it remains challenging to derive generic models for the optimization of upstream bioprocesses.

Recent developments and increase in computational power have opened the path for the application of artificial intelligence in the understanding of complex biological systems such as CHO cells or HEK293 cells used for the manufacturing of protein therapeutics, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies. An increase in process efficiency would save resources, making biopharmaceutical drug manufacturing more sustainable and more affordable, assure highest standards of product quality, and allow access to wider patient populations.

Your proposal should include:

• a non-confidential description of your model and key parameters relevant for optimizing cell culture media 
• the proposed data strategy for continuous improvement ensuring the model’s ability to adapt to a range of mammalian host organisms

We are offering up to 1 grant of up up to 150,000 EUR per year for up to 3 years  with the possibility of further collaboration.

The legacy of certain at the time legally-compliant, now abandoned processes has resulted in contaminated soils, wastewater, and groundwater, which continue to challenge communities and industries alike. In particular, low-contaminated materials present significant difficulties for sustainable and economical remediation due to their typically high volumes. As a science-driven organisation, Merck is committed to fostering innovations that promote sustainability within our industry. 

We are therefore calling for research proposals dedicated to the remediation of high-volume, low-contaminated soil and water, with a specific focus on chloro-organic pollutants and particularly those contaminated with hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH).

We invite proposals that explore innovative, sustainable, scalable, and economically viable remediation methods. Proposals should mandatorily outline practical feasibility in large-scale applications, contributing significantly to the advancement of environmental science and remediation technologies. 

We are offering 1 grant of up up to 150,000 EUR per year for up to 2 years with the possibility of further collaboration.

In this category, we invite proposals to develop innovative cell free screening assays leveraging condensate-inspired approaches to study and modulate weak protein protein interactions (PPIs).

Enhancing or disrupting PPIs by small molecules, such as molecular glue degraders or disruptors of functional complexes, is an emerging field in drug discovery. Current screening technologies, however, rely on standard methods that often lack sensitivity and fail to mimic cellular conditions.

In cells, local protein concentrations often are enhanced by sequestration into condensates—membrane-free compartments enriched with proteins, nucleic acids, and other macromolecules. This grant seeks innovative cell-free assays that replicate the crowded macromolecular environment of condensates in vitro, enabling better detection of weak PPIs and more accurate mimicry of cellular conditions.

In your application, please describe the anticipated sensitivity improvements and any additional advantages of your assay compared to traditional cell-free approaches. Additionally, specify the types of PPIs you aim to address.

We are offering up to 1 grant of up up to 100,000 EUR per year for up to 3 years with the possibility of further collaboration.

We invite research proposals focused on the synthesis of novel molecules or the design and development of analogue compound libraries, including those intended for studying structure-activity relationships (SAR).

SYNTHIA® Retrosynthesis Software is designed to empower chemists by simplifying and optimizing synthetic planning. Leveraging over 20 years of development, this cutting-edge platform combines expert-coded organic synthesis rules with advanced algorithms to generate robust and viable pathways. With access to a database of over 12 million commercially available starting materials and building blocks, SYNTHIA® Retrosynthesis Software opens the door to a broad portfolio of innovative chemistry [1].

Submitted proposals should:

• include a description of your synthetic project
• be suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal
• description of use of SYNTHIA® in your project

We are offering up to 3 research grants, each including a full SYNTHIA® Retrosynthesis Software license for one year and the opportunity for further collaboration. Recipients will benefit from extensive interaction with our scientists, along with live training sessions on utilizing SYNTHIA® Retrosynthesis Software effectively.

[1] www.synthiaonline.com