Merck Held the “Innovation Day” in Shanghai for Start-up Empowerment and a Better Innovation Ecosystem in China
Merck announced the success of the 3rd batch of Merck Accelerator program in China, supporting start-ups with an international platform and substantial corporate resources, and creating an innovative cooperation model.
November 18, 2020, Shanghai, China – Merck, a leading global science and technology company, launched its “Innovation Day” in Zhangjiang, Pudong, and demonstrated its many innovation-centric projects for faster innovation practice in China, including stronger win-win cooperative strategies with partners and more empowerment to start-ups, as well as a better innovation ecosystem. Leaders and guests from the Merck, the Pudong New Area Government, the Zhangjiang Group, industry, academia and research institutes participated in the event. Participants also witnessed the launch of the “Merck Shanghai Innovation Base”, appreciated the closing roadshow of startup projects in the 3rd batch of Merck Accelerator programs in China, including those in the final pitch and the winners of the 2020 “AI+” Supernova Awards.
Merck and Zhangjiang Group launched Merck’s Shanghai Innovation Base on “Innovation Day”. This represented important progress between Merck and the Shanghai Pudong New Area Government as they signed a strategic cooperation agreement at the 2020 World AI Conference in July. Also, this represents an embodiment that Merck is committed to continuously investing in the local market at the crucial year for Shanghai when it’s vigorously building a science and technology innovation center and forming its basic framework in 2020.
Merck’s Shanghai Innovation Base is located at No.800 Naxian Road, Zhangjiang Science City, covering an area of more than 2,000 sq m space. It is planned to open officially in the first half of 2021. The Innovation Base will rely on Merck’s leading technology industry resources and Zhangjiang Science City’s vibrant innovation resources, effectively utilizing and linking Merck’s innovative ecological network, as well as accelerating, incubating and investing in high-quality healthcare, life science, performance materials and other cross-business innovative projects including start-up company projects and industry-university-research projects. It aims to accelerate the development and implementation of innovative projects and bring new technologies and solutions to China and the global markets.
Merck and Zhangjiang Group Launched Merck’s Shanghai Innovation Base on Innovation Day
“China’s innovation environment and rapid development favorably allows Merck to grow. Just like Merck China Innovation Hub slogan ‘Stay Curious, Dare to Innovate’, we actively explore the innovation ecosystem and work with local partners for faster business growth and transformation, as well as innovation and development countrywide.” said Sun Zhengjie (Sophie), the Managing Director of the Merck China Innovation Hub and Vice President of Merck Strategy and Transformation China. “In recent years, Merck has never stopped in our efforts to invest more in China’s innovation. We successfully established China Innovation Hub and inaugurated two physical Innovation Spaces in Shanghai and Guangdong. Now, Merck has officially launched the Merck Shanghai Innovation Base and held its ‘Innovation Day’ for faster empowerment of innovation projects, especially in artificial intelligence health solutions. We are very confident of our work with local governments, start-ups, and partners from industry, academia and research institutes to support the innovative development of China.”
The Merck “Innovation Day” also coincided with the 1st anniversary of the opening of the Innovation Spaces in Shanghai and Guangzhou under the Merck China Innovation Hub. Merck Innovation Hub has also announced its on-site success of the 3rd batch of Merck Accelerator program in China. Six start-ups were selected in the final round, focusing on Merck-related businesses and dedicated to AI health solutions, organoids, bioelectronics, clean meat and other innovation fields explored by Merck. During the four-month project acceleration, they were supported by internal and external resources from Merck China and global business experts. Merck China Innovation Hub, in addition to offering project funding and office space, effectively empowered the projects by virtue of the Merck’s innovation network, partnerships and other resources. 83% of start-ups entered into follow-up project cooperation. The Awards were then presented at a concluding ceremony held after the roadshow, which successfully concluded the 3rd batch of Merck Accelerator program in China.
