Merck Serono to run research projects with BioMed X

The new research lab will allow Merck Serono to run projects with interdisciplinary teams of young scientists, coached by a supervisor at Merck Serono and an experienced academic in an open-innovation lab facility.

Merck Serono said the researchers from leading academic institutions worldwide will be selected through assessment centres based on their ‘scientific expertise, creative energy, and passion for product-oriented pre-clinical research and development’.

Under the terms of the agreement signed by both companies, Merck Serono will fund and run its own research projects on new treatments for cancer in the biomedical research lab. No financial terms have been disclosed.

 ‘Our goal is to seed and boost early stage research projects by placing them into a vibrant environment, bringing in top young talent to work at the interface between industry and academia in one of the top European research hubs in Heidelberg,’ said Bernhard Kirschbaum, Head of Global Research and Early Development at Merck Serono. ‘We expect this concept can result in a constant flow of innovative projects and creative talent into Merck Serono.’

In addition to operating the innovation centre, BioMed X will be responsible for worldwide recruiting of young talents, providing education to teams and securing access to academic research infrastructure in Heidelberg.

‘I believe forming teams of top life science talents from around the world and providing experienced mentors from academia and industry is a critical step to success,’ said Christian Tidona, Founder and Managing Director of BioMed X.

BioMed X’s goal is to establish and run innovation centres in major innovation hubs worldwide.