EXPLORING THE UNEXPLORED

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INTRODUCING THE INNOVATION CENTER

A BRIGHT PLACE FOR CURIOUS MINDSInnovation is often sparked by a curious question, and this is exactly how the Innovation Center started. We asked: “What if curious minds from all business sectors joined forces with external innovators to develop innova­tions beyond current boundaries? Wouldn’t it be ideal to have a place to complement our existing research and development where we could help ideas grow into viable new business outside our current scope?”

Our answer was to set up the modular Innovation Center in 2015 as a proto­type for the final Innovation Center.

There, our initiatives started to con­nect employees and external startups, visionaries and companies from all around the globe to create ground­breaking innovations.

To give the future even more room, we inaugurated our new Innovation Center at Merck’s global headquarters.And while the Innovation Center is a building, it is far more than that: It is a mindset, open to new ideas and people. In this spirit, we invite you to ask curi­ous questions, explore the unexplored and become part of our community of curious minds.

Help ideas grow and scale up

to viable new business...

...beyond current

boundaries

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“With the Merck Innovation Center, we built a creative and agile environment where curious minds can come together to create new technologies for the business of tomorrow.” Stefan Oschmann, CEO Merck

At the Innovation Center, ideas have room to grow into innovations. The light-filled and spacious building invites bright minds to find inspiration, ideate, connect, prototype and advance innovation projects on their way to market success.

With its unique, open architecture, it fluidly combines workspaces with public spaces in which employees and visitors can exchange their ideas and collaborate across disciplines and functions.

ROOM FOR IDEAS

INTRODUCING THE INNOVATION CENTER

Key facts

• 7,100 m² space for creative work on six floors

• Building was completed in only two years

• Building costs were 69 million Euros

• Built according to the Gold Standard of the international LEED® Green Building

where curious minds

can come together

...beyond current

boundaries

Help ideas grow and scale up

to viable new business...

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A futuristic installation of moving displays, a mirrored passageway that is immersed in a fluctuating glow: Throughout the building, a number of cutting­edge Merck materials have been used to design a visionary environment that stimulates curiosity and creativity.

A vivid flow of lightIn the passage between the Innovation Center and the Restaurant, the installation “The Light Cloud” accompanies visitors with a vivid flow of light. Like a living organism, the OLED­installation reacts to the actual processes and activities in the building, visualizing the continuous stream of ideas cre­ated. It consists of several hundred individu ally addressable, rectangular lighting panels containing Merck OLED materials.

A colorful waveThe Media Wall in the foyer looks like a greeting from the future. It is a colorful

installation of moving displays that shows alternating animations, some poetic,

some informative. The Media Wall is built with 72 liquid­crystal displays using

Merck PSVA technology (Polymer Stabilized Vertical Alignment).

Human centric lightingThe lighting system creates a natural atmosphere that is at­tuned to the human biorhythm. It is fitted with luminants that contain Merck LED material.

Pearl white ceilings The perforated ceiling panels have been powder­coated with Merck effect pigments that are normally used in car colors. The custom­made color formu­lation has never been used in a building before.

MATERIALS FOR THE FUTURE

INTRODUCING THE INNOVATION CENTER

where curious minds

can come together

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TAKE A TOUR

INTRODUCING THE INNOVATION CENTER

The Lounge and Coffee Shop provide a warm wel­come to visitors and an overview of Merck’s innovation approach. The Auditorium seats up to 250 guests and hosts exciting talks and other events, some of which will be open to the public.

The Co-Creation Space fosters creative thinking and collaboration via workshops and other open exchange formats. The Scientific Multimedia Library offers information on business, science, patents and innovation topics. It is open to all employees.

Ideas are generated and developed in the highly flexible Project Areas in an open space design. Here, startups and Merck project teams are hosted to collaboratively work on innovation projects.

In the Makerspace, innovators can build prototypes. It offers a variety of tools and technolo­gy, including 3D printing, laser cutters, Augmented and Virtual Reality devices, basic electronic kits and traditional tools and materials. The Makerspace also maintains a network of proto­typing partners throughout the company and externally, as well as a space for showcasing external innovative tools.

A Re-Creation Area offers individuals the option to work in a quiet environment or recharge their creative powers.

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READY TO INNOVATE?

OUR INITIATIVES IN A NUTSHELL

Taking different perspectives is key – which is why we approach innovation from many different angles. To build sustainable future businesses, we define Innovation Fields that set a strategic direction. We source internal ideas and foster to develop a dedicated project portfolio. We connect with internal and external innovators and strengthen their skills.

FOSTERinternal ideation, project inception & progress

With our ideation initiatives Innospire, Think Tank and Open Campaign, we invite employees with different backgrounds to ideate and develop their ideas. The most promising ideas sourced through these internal initia­tives become innovation projects, which we efficiently grow and scale to become viable businesses.

CONNECTexternal ideas To source external ideas, we establish strong connections to the startup com­munity, scientific centers of excellence and external partners across industries. Through external ideation and the Accelerator program, we look for synergies with our innovation projects.

SETstrategic direction In order to set strategic directions, we analyze trends and identify technologies and fields that will gain relevance in the future and in which we see potential for new business. With these insights, we define Innovation Fields to use as starting points for ideation.

STRENGTHENinnovator skills & innovation culture Our Innovator Academy runs needs­based training sessions and workshops for all innovators to unleash their innovation potential and spark ideas.

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THE NEXT BIG THING

INNOVATION FIELDS

Bio­sensing and Interfaces

Our first innovation field “Bio-sensing and Inter-faces” focuses on the integration of electronics with the human body using novel sensors. This will enable faster and more accurate monitoring of health and treatment in numerous areas utilizing data analysis tools.

“Our vision is to become a leader in generating new, fresh insights into human biology and developing personalized therapies with the help of biosensors.” Zeeshan Mahmood, Head of Innovation Field Bio­sensing & Interfaces

Imagine all this was possible:

• Real­time remote monitoring allowing patients to stay at home

• Medical treatment tailored and adaptive to patient condition

• Measurement of and response to external stimuli and metabolic reactions

• Limitation of side effects• Improving the patient’s quality of life• Payment only if treatment is successful

While we cherish unexpected ideas, we also work to identify new areas that have touch points with Merck know­how and that look promising for new technologies and disruptive business ideas. We determine these so­called Innovation Fields by analyzing current megatrends, and we explore them by setting topics for our ideation initiatives.

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Innovation can happen everywhere – all it takes is a curious mind to ask a question and imagine a new answer. The Innovation Center invites all innovators from across business sectors to join forces in our initiatives and develop mind­blowing innovations.

How can I participate?There are several ways to start work with us – by submitting or supporting ideas, by taking part in Innospire or the Open Campaign or by applying for a Think Tank.

Not an employee? Find exciting options to innovate with Merck on page 18.

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

INTERNAL INITIATIVES

The quick start: Open Campaign

The Open Campaign is a dynamic, flexible ideation approach open to ideas from all employees. Through an online channel you can submit ideas at any time, or you can look out for our specific challenges. The ideas are then refined, matured and pitched within weeks, resulting in the best ones becoming innovation projects. Through the short­term focus, we can follow customer needs, innovation trends, or the latest Innovation Fields quickly.

What’s in it for you?• Realize your idea: Get the freedom to

concentrate on your innovation project and bring it to the next level

• Expand your network: Team up with colleagues with diverse competencies and expertise

• Break the routine: Operate in agile “startup” mode with lean processes

• Boost your skills: Learn from experts and enhance your innovation skills

A holistic approach: Innospire Are you a curious mind that likes to work through your ideas thoroughly? Innospire is the right initiative for you. It is open to all ideas, but also defines strategic search spaces to use as inspiration. You submit your idea online and form a diverse team to bring your idea to the next level. Within a period of nine months we help mature the most promising ideas into busi­ness cases. The Merck board members select the winners which become innovation projects.

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INTERNAL INITIATIVES

How will we live in the future? What are the major developments that will affect our daily lives? If you find these questions intriguing, you might want to apply for our Think Tank, a three month residency at the Innovation Center.

To kick off a Think Tank, we define topics that will be relevant for the future, after which we put together diverse teams. You and your teammates will analyze current trends and technologies, generate new ideas and initial business concepts for inno­vation projects. In the end, you pitch your ideas, and the best ones are selected to become innovation projects.

Looking into the future: Think Tank

A success story: LicriEye

LicriEye is an artificial lens for cataract opera­tions, which promises patients the restoration of 100% of their vision.

The artificial lenses currently available often fail to provide accurate vision for the patient. LicriEye, however, enables ophthalmologists to change the focus non­invasively, directly after cataract surgery, using a laser. It could poten­tially improve cataract treatment for millions of patients.

This innovation project is the result of our Innospire initiative.

www.licrieye.com

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With our external initiatives, we’re reaching out to all innovators. Thus, we establish strong connections to the startup community and scientific centers of excellence. With our external ideation, we also launch joint innovation projects with external partners – from small businesses to established industry players. By pooling our resources, knowledge and technologies, we collaborate on innovation beyond current Merck’s boundaries.

LET‘S JOIN FORCES

EXTERNAL INITIATIVES

Would you like to take your startup to the next level? We are looking for early­stage companies with the potential to reshape entire industries and make people’s lives richer. The focus of the Accelerator is on startups in the fields of healthcare, life science, performance materials and other relat­ed fields – with a digital perspective.

Our Accelerator Program promotes start­ups in the early stages and takes place at our headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany. In addition to this, we engage in satellite programs in the African startup hotspots of Nairobi, Cape Town, and Lagos.

Working on a big bang company? Meet the Accelerator

A success story: Inuru

A bright organic light source that can be printed on paper – what sounds like a science fiction movie is reality for the start­up Inuru. Using the OLED as its basis, Inuru has developed a ultra­thin, environmentally friendly, illuminating paper that can be easily integrated into any type of object.

www.inuru.de

What are the benefits of our Accelerator program?

• Collaboration opportunities: Get con­nected to Merck innovation projects

• Mentoring: Get advice and coaching from experienced managers

• Office space: Work in a creative environment

• Funding: We award up to € 50,000 per startup

• Global networking: Meet experts and other founders

Want to become part of the Accelerator? accelerator.merckgroup.com

“We learned to understand the strength of our technology better through an open exchange with the Merck Performance Materials teams and also got valuable by examining sales channels more closely.” Marcin Ratajczak, CEO and founder of Inuru

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UNLEASH YOUR INNOVATIVE POTENTIAL

THE INNOVATOR ACADEMY

Are you an expert in your field, but find it hard to develop an idea? Do you have a great idea, but don’t know how to bring it to life? The Innovator Academy is for you! We run need­based workshops and train­ing sessions for innovators, project teams and start­ups to unleash innovation potential and spark ideas.

With our range of development programs, methodol­ogies, as well as online and offline trainings focused on ideation, innovation and business development, you can get help and inspiration for every stage of your innovation project – from the first idea to the market launch of a viable business or service.

Stimulate an innovation mindset

With offers such as • Webinars • Innovation coaching • Programs, e.g.

Innovative leadership

… and enable innovation

In­person trainings with professional experts and self­guided online trainings via traintoinnovate.com are open to our startups, as well as all Merck employees.

You are perfectly prepared to be an entrepreneurial thinking innovator

Think lean

Master commercial-

ization

Learn how to ideate

Get the hang of business

model design

Become an innovator

Hey presto!

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THAT HAPPENED SINCE 2015KEY FIGURES

THINK TANKS

INNOVATION PROJECTS

AMBAS-SADORS

826 13

3800052,000

68050,000

developed 9 exciting innovation projects

people improved their innovative power in the Innovator Academy

cups of coffee were drunk to keep up the energy

employees celebrated the bright side of failure during our F*** Up Nights

future pioneers were born to resident innovators

Post­It’s were used to brainstorm new ideas

were supported, 16 of which are still hosted nowEmployees from 22 countries worked in the Innovation Center

shared the Innovation Center spirit in 16 countries around the globe

Merck KGaAFrankfurter Straße 25064293 DarmstadtGermany

Phone +49 (0) 6151 72­0Fax +49 (0) 6151 72­2000

CURIOUS ABOUT EXPLORING THE FUTURE? www.innovationcenter.merckgroup.com

Photos: HGEsch for Merck