Merck has announced the launch of its Uptune programme in Asia, which aims to generate collaboration opportunities with early-stage innovative companies.

The Merck Uptune Programme is Merck's startup collaboration programme. It supports early-stage companies across Asia working on relevant topics within healthcare, life science, electronics, and smart manufacturing, and with a strong focus on-

• digital health solutions;
• innovative technologies/materials for semiconductor and display;
• cellular, molecular- and immuno-assays; cell and gene therapy tools, chemistry and materials for life science;
• Supply chain innovation, data management, simulation and analytics for manufacturing

It will start in mid-November 2022. The application period will run through September 4, 2022 via the website. Merck is looking for up to five startups to participate in the programme. Merck has offered various support for emerging startup companies in China. In the past three years, 30 startups were enrolled in the Merck China Accelerator programme and received up to € 50,000 in funding and individual mentoring and coaching from internal and external experts. 60% of those startups reached collaborations with Merck.

Now, Merck is taking a further step towards evolving its Accelerator programme to the Uptune programme in Asia, by means of increased funding of €100,000 to empower young companies to devise proofs-of-concepts, run pilot projects, and develop partnerships with Merck.