Since 2018, El Merck – Conicet Award of Innovation in Health Sciences It is a specific tool to promote scientific research with Direct impact on human health.
The initiative, which arises from an alliance between the national Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) and the German company Merckwith the support of the Germany Embassy in Argentinaseeks to promote technological developments that can be applied to Diagnostics, treatments and medical monitoring.
The call articulates public and private institutions with the purpose of strengthening innovation throughout the country. This award recognizes ideas in the development phase and seeks to give them visibility, specialized mentoring and projection; And, due to its federal and open character, it has become a platform for entrepreneurs, researchers and teams that work in key areas such as biotechnology, digital health, artificial intelligence or robotics applied to medicine.
It should be noted that the final selection contemplates a rigorous process of evaluation, mentoring and exhibition before a specialized jury, being that in the 2025 edition Two economic stimuli are incorporated: a first prize of 10 million pesos and a second of 7 million, awarded on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the company in the country.
The contest opens the possibility of postulating Until May 23 a people between 18 and 50 years oldas well as legal entities constituted in Argentina. He exclusive requirement is that projects They must be unpublishedeven for those who have participated in previous editions.
They can be presented Innovations, solutions, designs and/or projects In one or more of the following areas:
- Solutions for the treatment and monitoring in oncological and/or neurological and/or endocrinological diseases and/or that affect fertility. Diagnostic test for these diseases
- Microbioma
- Bio-interface and bio-sensors
- Artificial intelligence applied to health
- Industry 4.0 applied to health
- Robotics applied to health
- Digital health
- Biotechnology
during the official launch, Marcelo Ponte, general director of Merck Argentinahe said: “I want and come to express our joy and our pride of presenting another edition of the Merck-Conicet award. This year for us is particular Not just because We turned 95 of uninterrupted presence in Argentina, but also because We celebrate the 200 years of the first immigration of German citizens to our country. ”
Meanwhile, the doctor Daniel Salamone, President of the Conicet Councilhe added: “This award celebrates creativity and favors the development of an ecosystem, stimulating it and giving visibility. We are very happy for this new edition and because they continue to trust us. ”
“We believe that Public-private associations They are one of the main tools we have to contribute to society and all those people who investigate so much for our country, so the importance of this award, ”Ponte completed.
The evaluation of the proposals will be developed between June and July. In August, the ten preselected projects will be announced, which will access a process of Intensive mentoring called “Merck-Conicet Week”.
The process will culminate on November 26 with the “Pitch Day”, when the finalists must present their developments before an evaluation committee formed by up to three specialists designated by Merck and three others selected by the CONICET.
The work scheme seeks a multidisciplinary evaluation, based on scientific experience, the applicability of projects and their potential social impact. It is a logic comparable to that of a technological incubator, but applied to the scientific field.
Peter Neven, Minister of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germanyhe said: “The Merck-Conicet Prize for Innovation in Health Sciences is already a fixed fact in our agenda year after year. This is the fifth editionbut it is a special edition because it is part of two great anniversaries: the 200 years of German immigration and the 95 years of the Merck company here in Argentina ”.
While stood out The role of the German scientific community In the construction of the Argentine scientific system: “A very special group of German immigrants were scientists and academics, in addition to prominent contributions to the progress of their respective disciplines, they had a very important role in the foundation of scientific institutions in Argentina.”
This reality became tangible through concrete examples, such as the creation of laboratories, institutes and university chairs promoted by German academics at the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This legacy resulted in formalized scientific cooperation agreements since 1969 between the two countries.
In that sense, Ponte added: “Merck globally is the oldest company of science and technology, we say that it is a 357 -year -old startup because it is continuously contributing to innovation. We believe that public-private associations are one of the main tools we have to contribute to society Already all those people who investigate for our country, so the importance of this award. ”
The Merck – CONICET award is not limited to giving funds. By promoting an integral process that goes from postulation to technical accompaniment and final exposure, it introduces a model of promoting science oriented to real health. Since 2018, more than 460 projects have already been presented.
The call is Open to Argentine natural persons between 18 and 50 yearsas well as legally constituted legal persons In the country. There are no regional restrictions within the national territory.
The initiative contemplates the possibility that those who have participated in editions before unpublished) They can address one or more of the following areas of innovation: Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Biotechnology, Biointerfaces, Biosensors, Microbioma, and Industry 4.0 applied to medicine.
The central axis is put in the developments oriented to human health. The applications they provide: “Solutions for the treatment and monitoring in oncological and/or neurological and/or endocrinological diseases and/or that affect fertility. Diagnostic test for these diseases”.
The period of registration will be extended from May 5 to 23, 2025and all candidacies must respect that schedule without exception. The platform, with all the information linked to the Merck-CONICET of Innovation in Health Sciences, is at: www.conicet.gov.ar/premio-merck-conicet.
To registerPeople who are part of CONICET must enter with their user and password at https://si.conicet.gov.ar, select the “Sigeva – user presentation/application user” and complete the form corresponding to the award. While external entrepreneurs must make a previous record in the body’s intranet (once the user is created, they can enter the same web environment of the official site).
To make specific consultations or resolve doubts, applicants can write to the official program email: [email protected]. That channel was enabled by CONICET as direct contact with the organizing team of the contest.
