Merck, a leading science and technology company headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, will gain early exposure to innovative developments and opportunities from startups in the pharma and life science sectors and will help foster their success.
Peregrine Ventures, specializing in investments in transformative medical technologies in Israel and globally, and Merck have announced a collaboration agreement under which the German science and technology company will become a strategic partner in Peregrine Ventures’ Incentive Incubator. As part of this collaboration, Merck will benefit from insights into market trends and opportunity hotspots, gaining access to startups in the fields of bioconvergence, pharma, and biotechnology, with the aim of initiating early-stage collaborations.
Founded in Germany in 1668, Merck, employs 63,000 people across 65 countries and is active in Life Science, Healthcare, and Electronics.
Merck joins a number of partners in the incubator, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Becton Dickinson, Elbit Systems, Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University, and Shaare Zedek Medical Center. This collaboration creates an environment where local and international stakeholders work together on early-stage developments — not only through capital investments but also via accumulated knowledge, access to professional networks, and strategic guidance. This setup enables global companies to gain early-stage exposure to trends, innovations, and local entrepreneurs.
For Merck, the collaboration with the Incentive Incubator represents an opportunity to strengthen its local presence in the medical innovation landscape and to gain direct exposure to startups that could potentially align with the company’s future development strategies. In addition to early access to technologies, the collaboration may also include investments, regulatory and business support, and planning of early-phase trials – depending on the needs of the startups and Merck’s interests.
The collaboration will focus on ventures with significant market potential, in areas aligned with Merck’s three global divisions: the Healthcare Division, which focuses on breakthrough drug development in oncology, neurology, and immunology; the Life Science Division, which provides advanced research, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical manufacturing solutions for labs and research institutes in chemistry, biology, and other fields; and the Electronics Division, which focuses on advanced material technologies for use in semiconductor industries, displays, and related sectors, with emphasis on medical environments.
Priority will also be given to bioconvergence ventures, which combine biology, engineering, and materials science, and can integrate into one or more of Merck’s divisions.
Lior Shahory, CEO of Incentive Incubator and General Partner at Peregrine Ventures: “Merck’s scientific, technological, and business strength will greatly support the growth of startups in the incubator. Early-stage Israeli startups that catch Merck’s eye and align with its roadmap will receive a major boost in the global market, including access to investments, scientific expertise, clinical trial resources, and strategic assets. We are proud to welcome Merck and believe it will significantly contribute to the incubator’s success and deliver real value to entrepreneurial teams in the coming years.”
Ezequiel Garfinkel, Head of Merck’s Science & Technology office in Israel: “This partnership reflects our strategic commitment to fostering early-stage innovation and deepening our footprint in Israel’s vibrant pharma and life science ecosystem. It builds on Merck’s long-standing scientific and strategic engagement in Israel, where we have been actively supporting research, technological development, and acceleration of local innovation for many years. By working closely with the startups in the Incentive Incubator, we aim to identify transformative technologies that align with our global R&D and business priorities. We are excited to join this dynamic network of partners and contribute to shaping the next generation of healthcare and technology solutions.”
Header: Incentive incubator and Merck Israel executives at the offices of Incentive incubator
Credit: Incentive incubator
