Merck Serono launches Innovation Cup 2011
Initiative for professional development of post-graduate students seeking career in pharmaceuticals
Twenty selected participants will learn about the pharmaceutical industry through presentations provided by Merck Serono's management and external experts, and work with their peers to develop concrete business plans, coached by Merck Serono retired professionals.
Students will work on business plans in Merck Serono's core therapeutic areas of oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, rheumatology, fertility and endocrinology. Each plan will be presented to a grand jury comprising members of Merck Serono's senior management as well as external experts, who will award a prize of b10,000 to the team presenting the most convincing plan.
‘Building talent today for tomorrow's business is a strategic priority at Merck Serono,’ said Dietmar Eidens, head of global human resources at Merck Serono. ‘Students will learn the fundamentals of research and development within the pharmaceutical industry, the implications of discovering and developing new drugs, and the requirements to bring those drugs to the market.’
‘The Innovation Cup was also developed to provide a forum for exchanging ideas on medical innovation that can make a difference in people's lives,’ added Susan Herbert, head of portfolio development at Merck Serono.
‘It's a unique opportunity for participants to get a first hand experience in entrepreneurship in the pharmaceutical industry.’
The Innovation Cup 2011 will take place near Frankfurt, from 1–5 August.
