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Based on public information; not affiliated with or endorsed by Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck & Co., Inc. (MSD outside the United States and Canada): public pathways for academic researchers

Which company? This page is about Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway, New Jersey, USA), known as Merck in the U.S. and Canada and as MSD everywhere else. It is a separate company from Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany); nothing here refers to Merck KGaA.[1]

Checked 30 Oct 2026.

What Merck & Co. states on its own public pages about process chemistry, crystallization, continuous manufacturing, solid state, impurities, PAT/digital and sustainable processes; named academic programmes; consortium memberships in our directory; calls on this site; and entry points. Every point cites its source. Checked 30 Oct 2026.

Playbook: Pitching precompetitive work

Themes: PAT and process modelling (incl. AI/ML-assisted process development) · Biocatalysis · Green and sustainable process

1. What Merck & Co. says publicly

Process chemistry

  • Merck says that for more than 25 years it has invested in advancing biocatalysis, including generating novel enzymes that enable better synthetic routes and greener manufacturing of complex products.[2]
  • Merck describes a "green-by-design" development strategy to progress from a synthetic route to a fully optimised and sustainable commercial manufacturing process.[2]

PAT / digital

  • Merck lists a 2025 ACS GCI Pharmaceutical Roundtable award for "Algorithmic Process Optimization (APO) for Pharmaceutical Development", which it describes as applying data science and modeling, including Bayesian Optimization, to pharmaceutical process design.[2]

Sustainable process

  • Merck says it applies a "green and sustainable science framework that applies green chemistry principles and quantitative sustainability metrics and goals to our scientific process".[2]
  • Its stated aim is "to develop the most efficient and sustainable processes at product launch".[2]
  • Merck describes SMART PMI (in-Silico MSD Aspirational Research Tool), which sets molecule-aware process mass intensity (PMI) targets for API manufacturing processes from the chemical structure, and says it uses streamlined lifecycle analysis tools to evaluate its processes.[3]

Not published by the company on the pages we checked: Crystallization, Continuous manufacturing, Solid state, Impurities (checked 30 Oct 2026).

2. Named academic programmes

Merck Investigator Studies Program (MISP)

  • Supports research "initiated, designed, implemented, and sponsored by external investigators" through provision of drug/vaccine and/or total or partial funding.[4]
  • Open to all academic and community-based physicians and researchers worldwide; proposals are reviewed by committees of medical and scientific staff against published areas of interest, which are organised by therapeutic area.[4]

A named academic programme in process chemistry or manufacturing is not publicly stated on the merck.com pages we checked.

3. Memberships in our industry directory

CIMSEPP's partner list names "Merck" without saying which Merck, so it is not attributed here.

4. Open or recurring calls on this site

No open or recurring calls from Merck & Co., Inc. are on this site right now.

Merck KGaA's research grants are a different company's programme; they are on our calendar: Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Research Grants (annual topics).

5. Entry points

What the labels mean
  • Open to applyA funding programme that eligible researchers can apply to, through the route the official page describes.
  • Needs an internal contactA proposal has to start with, or be sponsored by, someone inside the company.
  • Via a consortium or centerEngagement runs through a consortium or centre that names the company; see its card on /industry/.
  • Members onlyOnly paying or member organisations take part.
  • Partnering enquiry (not a funding call)A route to contact the company about a collaboration; it is not a funding programme.
  • Open to applyMerck Investigator Studies Program (MISP): Investigator-initiated studies in its published areas of interest (by therapeutic area); support is drug/vaccine and/or funding.[4]
  • Via a consortium or centerConsortia and centres that name Merck & Co.: See the memberships above; how outsiders take part differs by centre.[memberships]

6. Sources

  1. Company fact sheet (merck.com) · https://www.merck.com/media/company-fact-sheet/ · checked 30 Oct 2026
  2. Green and sustainable science (merck.com) · https://www.merck.com/research/areas-of-innovation/green-and-sustainable-science/ · checked 30 Oct 2026
  3. Green chemistry programs and initiatives (merck.com) · https://www.merck.com/research/areas-of-innovation/green-and-sustainable-science/green-chemistry-programs-and-initiatives/ · checked 30 Oct 2026
  4. Merck Investigator Studies Program (MISP) · https://misp-investigator-studies.com/ · checked 30 Oct 2026
  5. NIIMBL membership page (combined member list) · https://www.niimbl.org/membership/ · checked 30 Oct 2026
  6. Purdue University announcement of the Young Institute Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium · https://www.purdue.edu/president/industry-partners/purdue-aims-to-speed-evolution-of-pharma-manufacturing-in-collaboration-with-lilly-and-merck/ · checked 30 Oct 2026
  7. Enabling Technologies Consortium (ETC): ETC Members · https://etconsortium.org/about-us/ · checked 30 Oct 2026

Based on public information; not affiliated with or endorsed by Merck & Co., Inc. Always confirm on the official page.