Location: Global
Program: Postgraduate Program
Eligibility: All Nationalities
Duration: Up to 3 years
Deadline: August 31, 2026
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The Merck KGaA 2026 Research Grants are offered by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, through its Open Innovation programme to stimulate innovative research in key areas shaping the future of science, healthcare, and sustainability. Since 2018, Merck KGaA has awarded research grants of up to €500,000 per year across multiple disciplines. For 2026, five distinct grant opportunities are available across neuroinflammatory disease modelling, AI-driven biomanufacturing, environmental remediation, condensate-based drug screening, and molecular synthesis. The application process is three-stage: in Stage 1, applicants submit an online abstract using non-confidential information only through the dedicated submissions platform at researchgrantsandchallenges.com applicants may apply for more than one grant; in Stage 2, shortlisted finalists are invited to submit a full proposal under confidentiality and participate in a collaborative Deep Dive Workshop with Merck scientists in November/December 2026.
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, founded in 1668, is one of the world’s oldest and most distinguished science and technology companies, operating across three business sectors: Life Science, Healthcare, and Electronics. Headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, the company employs over 60,000 people in more than 65 countries. In the United States and Canada, Merck KGaA operates under the umbrella brands MilliporeSigma (Life Science), EMD Serono (Healthcare), and EMD Electronics. Merck KGaA is deeply committed to open innovation and scientific collaboration, annually offering research grants, innovation challenges, and the prestigious Future Insight Prize to engage external researchers and accelerate breakthrough discoveries worldwide.
Benefits of the Programme
This programme will provide the following to its recipients:
- Up to €250,000 per year for up to 2 years for research on novel therapies for neuroinflammatory diseases
- Up to €150,000 per year for up to 3 years for AI in cell culture media and process development
- Up to €150,000 per year for up to 2 years for innovative remediation of contaminated high-volume materials
- Up to €100,000 per year for up to 3 years for high-sensitivity cell-free screening assays
- Up to 3 grants for advancing molecule synthesis and discovery, each including a 1-year full Synthia® Retrosynthesis Software licence, training, and extensive interaction with Merck scientists
Also Check:
Dutch Government Student Finance (Studiefinanciering) 2026–2027 – Netherlands
ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028 – Belgium
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this programme, applicants must meet the following:
- Must be a scientist at any career stage — the programme is open to early-career, mid-career, and senior researchers
- Must be affiliated with any research-based institution, university, or company worldwide — there are no geographic restrictions
- Must submit a research proposal that falls within the scope of at least one of the five 2026 grant topics — proposals that fall entirely outside the scope of a grant description are not considered
- Must submit the abstract using non-confidential information only in Stage 1 — no confidential information is to be included at this stage
- May apply for more than one grant topic simultaneously
Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements.
Also Check:
Bayreuth Humboldt Centre Grants 2026–2027 – Germany
ICANN Fellowship Program 2026–2027 – Portugal
Selection Criteria
Eligible proposals are evaluated by Merck KGaA’s selection committee based on six criteria: innovativeness of the proposed research; commercial potential; path forward after the funding period ends; probability of success; team strength; and strategic fit with Merck KGaA’s research priorities. Proposals that fall entirely outside the scope of the grant description are disqualified; all others are evaluated on the above criteria. Shortlisted finalists are invited to a Deep Dive Workshop in November/December 2026, where they further develop their proposals collaboratively with Merck scientists under confidentiality a participant’s agreement must be signed before the workshop. Final grant winners are selected following the Deep Dive workshops, after which bilateral collaboration agreements are entered into to enable payment and project commencement. All applicants including those not shortlisted are informed of the committee’s decision by email.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to visit the official webpage and submit your application.
