Innovation Cup
Innovation Cup supports students and early-career researchers in developing scientific ideas and business plans that address unmet customer needs across pharmaceutical, chemical, and digital industries.
Funder: Merck KGaA (EMD Group)
Due Dates: November 1, 2026 (Applications open) | January 31, 2027 (Application deadline) | Early March 2027 (Next steps) | Early April 2027 (Ideas due) | Early May 2027 (Team assignments) | August 14–20, 2027 (Summer camp)
Funding Amounts: Shared team prizes: €25,000 (winner), €10,000 (runner-up), €5,000 (third place), plus covered camp travel, accommodation, and food
Summary: A week-long innovation camp helps participants develop scientific ideas addressing unmet customer needs into technically and commercially convincing business plans.
Key Information: Apply individually, not as a team; healthcare professionals are excluded.
Description
The Innovation Cup is a student innovation competition run by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. For 2027, 42 participants will be selected for a one-week summer camp near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Small teams develop innovative ideas addressing scientific challenges and unmet customer needs, evaluate their technical and business potential, and build business plans with coaching from company scientists, managers, and experienced retirees.
The program combines scientific innovation with learning about research and development, product discovery, development, and commercialization in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and digital industries. Participants present their business plans to a jury of senior company researchers and managers and external experts. The most convincing plans receive team prizes, and options for implementing the best plans are evaluated after the competition.
