Innovation Cup 2026 – Great minds come together

The Innovation Cup in its sixteenth year, brings together a promising new generation of academic talents from life sciences, material sciences, data sciences and business administration with the company's senior management, researchers and accomplished retirees. This meeting of the minds is a creative and innovative platform aimed at advancing science and technology.

What's in it for me?

If you are a post-graduate student with an interest in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry, the Innovation Cup is your chance to gain in-depth knowledge about pharmaceutical and chemical research and development, to network with top students from around the world and to build a business case together with experienced professionals.

Explore job opportunities at our company and visit the innovation summer camp near Frankfurt, Germany, August 8th to 14th, 2026 and take your chance to win the Innovation Cup along with EUR 20,000 with your team (EUR 5,000 for the runner-up team and EUR 3,000 for third place).

All travel, accommodation and food expenses will be paid by the company.

The team oncology will work on new innovative approaches for the targeted treatment of cancer with small molecules or proteins either directly attacking cancer cells or via stimulating the immune system and overcoming the immunosuppressive environment of tumors.

Who can apply:

We invite advanced students in life sciences, chemistry, physics, computer sciences and business administration from all over the world to apply for participation in the Innovation Cup. 35 students will be selected:

Sciences: Postgraduate students in the life, material and data sciences, on their way towards a PhD in biology, chemistry, medicine, physics, biotech, bioinformatics, biochemistry, pharmacy, informatics, computer science, data science, engineering or related fields. Also Post Docs can apply
Business: Advanced MBA students or recent MBA graduates with an interest in the pharmaceutical business and a life science background.

The cup is not open to U.S. healthcare professionals.

How it works:

During a one week Summer Camp, 42 selected postgraduate students will attend in-depth presentations about the pharmaceutical and chemical industry given by our management, scientists and external experts. Participants will work in small teams to generate an innovative idea that addresses a scientific challenge and develop the idea into a business plan. Teams will receive coaching and guidance from experienced veterans of our company, the Summer Camp moderator and our Innovation Management. You will learn the essentials about R&D within the pharmaceutical and chemical industry and understand how products are successfully discovered, developed and brought to market. You will learn to evaluate your ideas from a technical and business perspective and build a convincing business plan.

The teams will present their business plans to a grand jury. The jury will be composed of our top management plus external consultants. The jury will select the best business plan and present the winning team with the Innovation Cup award and cash prize of EUR 20,000 plus EUR 5,000 for the runner-up team and EUR 3,000 for the third place. At the first day of the Innovation Cup a conference with alumni from previous events will be organized with ample networking opportunities.

How do I apply?

Please only send your application (motivational letter, CV including publication list) through the webpage below and then select the specific team of your choice to apply for.

Further information about the program and how to apply online from October 13th, 2025, until January 31st, 2026:
For visitors in the United States and Canada
For visitors outside the United States and Canada

Location:

Near Frankfurt, Germany, August 8th to 14th, 2026.
Travel, accommodation and food expenses will be paid by the company.

Merck Healthcare KGaA

Jobs:

Innovation Cup 2026 - Team Oncology (all genders)

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