Merck KGaA invests €270 million to create "site of the future"

The investment will fund the construction of a Translational Science Center for its Healthcare business sector, as well as a new Learning Center

This €270 million project is part of the €1 billion investment package the company announced in March 2019.

Kai Beckmann, CEO Electronics and Member of the Executive Board of Merck, said both construction projects, which are expected to be completed by 2025, reflect the strategic importance of of the Darmstadt site, calling it the company's "site of the future".

The new €200 million Translational Science Center will offer room for more than 500 scientists, who will conduct research in a wide variety of fields ranging from the identification of disease biomarkers to the development of targeted therapies.

This investment will give rise to an integrated, flexible-use laboratory building covering more than 30,000 m², that includes a lecture hall, in vitro laboratories including a cell bank, as well as a modern and flexible knowledge environment.

The €70 million Learning Center, which is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2024, will comprise seven floors with a surface area of more than 14,000 m2 enabling Merck to house training facilities for all vocational training occupations under one roof.

The building will offer space for laboratories, seminar rooms and workshop, creating sufficient room for 50 employees from the Vocational Training department to prepare the company’s 600 apprentices for the workforce and their assignments within the company. It will also host advanced training at Merck.

Both buildings have been designed to use sustainable materials. By using alternative energy supplies, the buildings will have a lower energy consumption, significantly reducing the carbon footprint compared will conventional methods.