Merck Furthers Scientists’ Research Through Expanded Seeding Labs Partnership

• New TeleScience online platform provides teaching and training to scientists in developing countries

Darmstadt, Germany, February 28, 2018 — Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced an expansion of its partnership with Seeding Labs to accelerate teaching and research for thousands of scientists in the developing world.

The Life Science business sector of Merck will be the exclusive sponsor of the Boston-based nonprofit’s new TeleScience online platform. Seeding Labs’ flagship program, called Instrumental Access, helps scientists around the world conduct life-changing research by providing them with lab equipment, training and opportunities to collaborate with experts in their field. The TeleScience online platform takes this support to a new level and leverages Merck’s expertise to provide a comprehensive online resource, with educational videos created and led by trained Merck employees.

“We have long believed that the greatest scientific breakthroughs start with curious minds, but these curious minds need access to the right equipment and information,” said Udit Batra, Member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. “Through our expanded partnership with Seeding Labs, we are able to provide our expertise and connect the global scientific community to resources it wouldn’t otherwise have, driving innovation and accelerating access to health for people everywhere.”

The TeleScience platform will feature videos presented by Merck employees on a wide range of topics, including sterile sampling, single-use, high-performance liquid chromatography, multi-channel pipetting and rebuilding a vacuum pump. Videos will offer tips and techniques for using equipment and troubleshooting problems, as well as building networking skills.

“Scientific talent is everywhere, but resources are not,” said Dr. Nina Dudnik, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Seeding Labs. “Some of the best and brightest minds don’t have access to the tools and support they need to make the next scientific breakthroughs a reality. By sponsoring the TeleScience platform, Merck is helping us to further break down geographical barriers and support fellow scientists in the most meaningful and impactful way possible through knowledge sharing and engagement.”

The Life Science business sector of Merck first partnered with Seeding Labs in 2013 through a variety of investments: financial support for shipping equipment and supplies to Gulu University in Uganda; in-kind product donations, including 16 spectrophotometers valued at $72,500; and volunteerism, including Merck employees’ time to test, package and inventory equipment to be donated to the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe for research focused on agriculture, nutrition and biofuels.

The Life Science business sector of Merck demonstrates its commitment and contribution to its surrounding ecosystem by leveraging its expertise and passion to give back to communities around the world in ways that align with its overall business objectives. To strengthen its impact and drive results, the Life Science business of Merck invests in nonprofit organizations through partnerships that advance scientific research and science education.

To learn more about efforts to date and explore the online TeleScience platform, visit telescience.seedinglabs.org.

About Seeding Labs

Seeding Labs is a Boston-based nonprofit that is accelerating solutions to the world’s most pressing problems by catalyzing the power of scientists in the developing world by helping them conduct life-changing research. Seeding Labs provides scientists with lab equipment, training, and opportunities to collaborate with experts in their field—and to use these vital resources to achieve great things. Seeding Labs‘ flagship program Instrumental Access has supported 56 institutions in 29 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia with more than $6.2M of resources to catalyze scientific research and increase STEM educational opportunities. Through strategic partnerships with the public and private sector, Seeding Labs is breaking down barriers to innovation for thousands of scientists and their students, redrawing the map of global science.

Seeding Labs is supported in part by USAID’s Global Development Lab and was named one of Fast Company magazine’s top 10 most innovative not-for-profit companies in the world in 2015. Learn more at SeedingLabs.org.

About the Corporate Responsibility Efforts of the Life Science Business of Merck

Through its corporate responsibility initiatives, the Life Science business of Merck harnesses the collective expertise, passion and energy of employees to minimize its environmental footprint and positively impact communities around the world.

The Life Science business is uniquely positioned to solve the toughest problems in Life Science through its efforts aligned with strengths in research, innovation and collaboration with the global scientific community. This helps differentiate its business and provides a competitive edge for its customers, while accelerating access to health for people everywhere. The Life Science business sector of Merck demonstrates its commitment to corporate responsibility through extensive programs in three main areas: Greener Products and Solutions — which includes Design for Sustainability, Green Chemistry, Packaging and Recycling initiatives; Employee and Community Engagement; and Sustainable Operations.

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science, and electronics. Around 58,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene-editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck generated sales of € 17.5 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics.