Sydney, April 16 2018 - 350 years of research and development are being celebrated this week as science and technology company Merck gathers employees from around the world to mark the company’s unparalleled history.
Australian employees of Merck will join 52,000 colleagues from 66 countries in a live global broadcast link-up to celebrate the 350 year anniversary of the company.
German Ambassador to Australia, Her Excellency Dr Anna Prinz, who is taking part in the celebrations, has congratulated Merck saying,"We see a lot of cooperation between Germany and Australia in the fields of research and university partnerships – especially in the health sector. Soon, life expectancy will reach 100 and it’s important to make the outcomes of this research available to people.
"Change comes fast and a company that has existed for 350 years will have the experience and competence to lead us into the future."
This week’s events are part of a year of activity celebrating the distinguished record of Merck which was founded in Darmstadt, Germany in 1668 by the pharmacist Friedrich Jacob Merck. Over 350 years, Merck has evolved into a leading global science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials developing technologies that improve and enhance life, such as biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, and liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. The Healthcare division’s goal is to help create, improve and prolong life and collaboration and drive innovation.
Stefan Oschmann, Executive Board Chairman and CEO of Merck said, "350 years, that’s an incredible number, especially if you consider everything that has happened in the world of science between 1668 and today. We are proud of the many contributions Merck has made to research and development. And we will also continue to do exactly the same. In other words, we are infinitely curious about what is coming."
Merck Australia Managing Director, Drew Young, said, "Australia is a key part of the Merck global business and we are delighted that our employees are being brought together to celebrate this important milestone. It is an opportunity to thank them and look to the future for the business."
Through 13 generations, the Merck founding family has remained the majority owner of the company.
In July, Merck will host the "Curious2018 – Future Insight" conference in Germany which will be attended by more than 35 renowned international scientists – including five Nobel Prize laureates – who will be presenting their work and discussing the future of science and technology.
Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis and help patients with infertility, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. ---
Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, EMD Millipore and EMD Performance Materials. F
