We are Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a vibrant science and technology company.

Science is at the heart of everything we do. It drives the discoveries we make and the technologies we create.

The passion of our curious minds makes a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day.

In Healthcare, we discover unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and cancer. Our Life Science experts empower scientists by developing tools and solutions that help deliver breakthroughs more quickly. And in Electronics, we develop science that sits inside technologies and changes the way we access, store, process, and display information.

Everything we do is fueled by a belief in science and technology as a force for good. A belief that has driven our work since 1668 and will continue to inspire us to find more joyful and sustainable ways to live.

We are curious minds dedicated to human progress.

For 75 years, Baker McKenzie has helped clients navigate the complexities of an ever-changing world.

From the civil rights movement to the fall of the Berlin wall and the invention of the world wide web, we've witnessed fundamental shifts in business and society over the last eight decades. But as the original global law firm, we've been steadfast in solving our clients' problems — wherever they are in the world — by providing a unique blend of local expertise and global context.

Baker McKenzie's Healthcare & Life Sciences group is one of the largest of any international law firm, comprising more than 800 lawyers in more than 40 countries. The team, which includes professionals with scientific backgrounds, is recognized by clients and industry peers for the premium quality advice it provides across all aspects of legal issues that healthcare, life sciences, biotech and medical devices companies face, including: M&As, reorganizations; carve-outs; divestitures; collaborations; licensing and other commercial arrangements; tax; regulatory compliance; data and technology; intellectual property advertising and promotion; employment and compensation; ESG and sustainability; competition; supply chains; trade; product safety and liability; and litigation. No other law firm has as many healthcare industry specialists in as many countries as we do. In an ever-changing, highly regulated, multijurisdictional industry, this is a game changer. Our dedication to legal excellence is globally acknowledged, supported by our innovative solutions and an extensive global presence encompassing more than 70 offices across more than 40 countries.

Cancer Research Horizons is the innovation engine of Cancer Research UK – the world's largest charitable funder of cancer research.

With access to Cancer Research UK’s network of 4,000 exceptional scientists and funding of £400m of world-class academic research each year, Cancer Research Horizons is chaning the way we prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. The Company offers the full spectrum of translational expertise, from drug discovery and clinical capabilities, translational funding and entrepreneurial training to licensing, industry collaboration and start- up creation expertise. It has played a role in the creation of over 95 start-ups, with its portfolio companies raising over £3bn in total capital.

Its dedicated Ventures team focuses on early-stage, high-risk companies, including one of the most challenging stages of start-up creation: attracting early-stage risk capital. The Ventures team manages the Cancer Research Horizons Seed Fund, launched in June 2022, to accelerate more breakthroughs to patient benefit.

Covington & Burling LLP (Covington) is a pre-eminent international law firm with more than 1,000 attorneys and advisors and offices in 14 locations around the world. We are known for the high quality of our work, in-depth knowledge of key industries, sophistication in complex corporate, regulatory, advisory, and contentious matters, deep loyalty to clients, and commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards. 

Covington offers one of the largest and most comprehensive life sciences industry-focused practices in the world. Our clients, spanning all industry sectors and ranging from startup ventures to multinational corporations and trade associations, trust us with their most challenging business problems. They know that they can rely on Covington for practical, efficient solutions rooted in a sophisticated knowledge of their business that only comes from deep immersion in the industry and decades of dedicated service. 

Our team includes more than a hundred lawyers who devote substantially all of their time to work on behalf of pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device clients. Many of our lawyers have previously served in leadership positions with the major industry regulatory bodies (including several high-ranking officials with the FDA and EMA), in-house with major manufacturers (including two former life sciences General Counsel), or within industry trade associations. Our broad background and depth of experience ensure that when clients come upon a problem that they have not seen before or anticipated, chances are that we have.

An economic powerhouse situated on the border of three countries, Basel-Stadt offers a very dynamic business environment. A healthy ecosystem thrives on its diversity to enrich and pollinate each other. Existing blue-chip companies, international companies that settle here, leading research institutes and SME’s rub shoulders with vibrant startups, prolific incubators and multinationals which thrive in the area. Born in the nucleus of life sciences innovation, Basel-Stadt flourishes as an international hub of innovation, culture and business acumen.
 
Switzerland is considered the most innovative country in the world, according to a number of studies. Access to knowledge, highly qualified and international talent and a supportive government have turned Basel into the leading innovation hub of Switzerland. A future-oriented outlook with continuous innovation marks Basel as an international leader in life sciences, healthcare, ICT technology and circular economy.

With a population of 200,000, Basel may seem to be a small city, but its rich economic and cultural offerings put it firmly in the big league. Many international companies and well-known brands such as Novartis, Roche, Lonza, Moderna, BeiGgene, Bayer and Syngenta have their headquarters here, and the city has a thriving, multi-cultural, well-educated expat community coming from more than 160 different countries.