Merck Kicks off "Smarter, Together" Initiative to Build on Growing Market Presence in Light of 125th U.S. Anniversary
- “Smarter, Together” initiative launched to foster dialogue with customers, scientists, politicians and local communities
- Initiative marks first joint campaign of all three Merck U.S. businesses
- Series of events in six major U.S. cities planned
- Activities aimed at supporting rising business presence in healthcare, life science and performance materials in the U.S.
Merck, a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials, today announced the kick-off of its U.S.-wide and cross-business “Smarter, Together” initiative, aimed at building on the Group’s growing U.S. presence in light of its 125th anniversary.
Merck over the past years has constantly invested in the world’s largest healthcare market. No other country invests more in innovation than the U.S. Merck generated sales of around € 2.2 billion in North America last year, almost a fifth of the Group’s total sales. Across its three businesses Healthcare, Life Science and Performance Materials, Merck employs more than 5,000 people in the country.
“We see two global mega trends that will have a massive impact on humans around the world in the years to come – the desire to improve quality of life by providing better healthcare solutions to more people and the increasing digitalization of everything we do,” said Merck CEO Karl-Ludwig Kley. “In both areas the U.S. are spearheading innovation and Merck is an excellent position to thrive in this market.”
Merck remains committed to further expanding its U.S. presence. With the acquisition of AZ Electronic Materials last year, Merck has doubled its Performance Materials footprint in the U.S. and added some of the major U.S. semiconductor players to its mainly Asian customer base. In September 2014, the company announced the $17 billion acquisition of St. Louis-based life science company Sigma-Aldrich, which is pending regulatory approvals. In November 2014, Merck formed a global strategic alliance with Pfizer to jointly develop and commercialize avelumab, an investigational anti-PD-L1 antibody, to accelerate the development of immuno-oncology medicines for patients with multiple types of cancer. As part of the agreement with Pfizer, Merck’s U.S. biopharmaceutical subsidiary, EMD Serono, has also started a co-promotion with Pfizer in the therapeutic area of oncology to build its U.S. presence.
“For 125 years in the U.S. – and nearly 350 years in Germany – our relentless questioning has opened doors to great discoveries made together,” said Stefan Oschmann, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board and Deputy CEO, at the official launch of the “Smarter, Together” initiative at the Museum of Science in Boston last night. “This year, we celebrate our company’s role in helping to answer some of science’s greatest questions, and we look forward to instilling that same, insistent curiosity as our future legacy. We firmly believe the culture of collaborative discovery and the ability to think in generations, not quarters, is critical to making tomorrow’s breakthroughs.”
Merck, whose roots date back to 1668, established the U.S. business in 1890. To honor 125 years of doing business in the U.S., the “Smarter, Together” initiative aims at driving the passion and curiosity of scientists and engineers around the world, as well as foster the inquisitive nature of the younger generation as they work toward becoming the next wave of great thinkers. Other planned initiatives include Philadelphia, Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., as well as San Francisco, targeting customers, scientists, politicians, local communities, employees and the general public alike.
Merck operates as EMD Serono, EMD Millipore and EMD Performance Materials in the U.S. The Darmstadt, Germany-based company owns the rights to the name all across the world, except North America, where the rights are held by Merck Sharp & Dohme.
To learn more about the “Smarter Together” campaign, and how the power of curiosity has driven scientific discovery visit www.125YearsSmarterTogether.com.
“We see two global mega trends that will have a massive impact on humans around the world in the years to come – the desire to improve quality of life by providing better healthcare solutions to more people and the increasing digitalization of everything we do,” said Merck CEO Karl-Ludwig Kley. “In both areas the U.S. are spearheading innovation and Merck is an excellent position to thrive in this market.”
Merck remains committed to further expanding its U.S. presence. With the acquisition of AZ Electronic Materials last year, Merck has doubled its Performance Materials footprint in the U.S. and added some of the major U.S. semiconductor players to its mainly Asian customer base. In September 2014, the company announced the $17 billion acquisition of St. Louis-based life science company Sigma-Aldrich, which is pending regulatory approvals. In November 2014, Merck formed a global strategic alliance with Pfizer to jointly develop and commercialize avelumab, an investigational anti-PD-L1 antibody, to accelerate the development of immuno-oncology medicines for patients with multiple types of cancer. As part of the agreement with Pfizer, Merck’s U.S. biopharmaceutical subsidiary, EMD Serono, has also started a co-promotion with Pfizer in the therapeutic area of oncology to build its U.S. presence.
“For 125 years in the U.S. – and nearly 350 years in Germany – our relentless questioning has opened doors to great discoveries made together,” said Stefan Oschmann, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board and Deputy CEO, at the official launch of the “Smarter, Together” initiative at the Museum of Science in Boston last night. “This year, we celebrate our company’s role in helping to answer some of science’s greatest questions, and we look forward to instilling that same, insistent curiosity as our future legacy. We firmly believe the culture of collaborative discovery and the ability to think in generations, not quarters, is critical to making tomorrow’s breakthroughs.”
Merck, whose roots date back to 1668, established the U.S. business in 1890. To honor 125 years of doing business in the U.S., the “Smarter, Together” initiative aims at driving the passion and curiosity of scientists and engineers around the world, as well as foster the inquisitive nature of the younger generation as they work toward becoming the next wave of great thinkers. Other planned initiatives include Philadelphia, Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., as well as San Francisco, targeting customers, scientists, politicians, local communities, employees and the general public alike.
Merck operates as EMD Serono, EMD Millipore and EMD Performance Materials in the U.S. The Darmstadt, Germany-based company owns the rights to the name all across the world, except North America, where the rights are held by Merck Sharp & Dohme.
To learn more about the “Smarter Together” campaign, and how the power of curiosity has driven scientific discovery visit www.125YearsSmarterTogether.com.
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