Deadline: August 31, 2024
Applications are open for the Merck Research Grant Program 2024. Since 2018, they 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 2024, grants are available in the following areas:
- Molecular Glue Degraders and PPI Stabilizers: In this category, they are providing financial support for research initiatives that concentrate on pioneering novel approaches for the screening & discovery of molecular glues.
- Augmented Reality Digital Twin: They are seeking research proposals to build an interactive Augmented Reality Digital Twin for their automated system’s monitoring and control.
- AI-Driven Drug Discovery: They are inviting research proposals for hit or lead optimization that you would like to advance using our AIDDISON™ drug discovery software.
Grant
- Discovery strategies for molecular glue degraders and other protein-protein-interaction stabilizers – 1 grant comprising up to €100,000/year for up to 3 years with potential further collaboration.
- Augmented Reality Digital Twin – 1 grant comprising up to €120,000/year for 1 year with potential further collaboration.
- AI-Driven Drug Discovery – up to 3 grants comprising AIDDISON software licenses for one year with potential further collaboration.
Eligibility
- Open to scientists in all career stages who are affiliated with any research-based institution, university or company.
- Applicants should be aged eighteen (18) or older at time of application and/or such an individual representing a team of individuals.
Application
- In the first stage of the Research Grants applications process, applicants submit their application containing non-confidential information only. You may apply for more than one grant or submit your application for more than one category. 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 2024. 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, they enter into bilateral collaboration agreements with the winning recipients. The collaborative Research Grants are a unique opportunity for researchers who are interested in working with Merck’s scientists and receive guidance from industry. During the Research Grant funding period, there will therefore be regular meetings with their scientists.
Submissions will be accepted until August 31, 2024 23:59 central European summer time.
For more information, visit Merck Research Grant.