Merck Celebrates SPARK Anniversary as Employee Volunteer Initiative Reaches Hundreds of Thousands of Students Worldwide

Merck Celebrates SPARK Anniversary as Employee Volunteer Initiative Reaches Hundreds of Thousands of Students Worldwide

(IN BRIEF) Merck is marking the 10th anniversary of its SPARK™ employee volunteer program, which has grown into a global initiative focused on promoting science education and community engagement. Since 2016, the program has mobilized employees across 48 countries to contribute nearly 200,000 volunteer hours and directly reach over 600,000 students, with millions more impacted through nonprofit partnerships. Through initiatives such as Curiosity Labs™ and the Curiosity Cube™, SPARK™ delivers hands-on science experiences while also supporting broader community activities. As the program enters its second decade, Merck has set ambitious expansion targets aimed at significantly increasing student reach, volunteer participation, and global impact, reinforcing its long-term commitment to accessible science education and community development.

(PRESS RELEASE) DARMSTADT, 19-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Merck, a global science and technology company, is celebrating the 10-year milestone of its SPARK™ employee volunteer initiative, a program designed to connect its workforce with communities through science-focused education and local engagement.

Over the past decade, SPARK™ has evolved into a global platform that brings science education closer to students through interactive learning experiences, classroom activities, and community collaborations. The initiative is driven by employees who contribute their time, knowledge, and passion to make science more accessible and engaging.

Karen Madden, Chief Technology Officer of Merck’s Life Science business, emphasized that SPARK™ embodies the company’s identity as a community of scientists and innovators committed to widening access to scientific knowledge. She highlighted how employee-led activities have helped students experience science in practical and meaningful ways, while also setting the stage for further expansion in the years ahead.

Since its launch in 2016, the program has grown significantly, with employees from 48 countries collectively contributing nearly 200,000 volunteer hours and directly engaging more than 600,000 students worldwide. In addition, collaborations with nonprofit organizations have extended the program’s reach to an estimated 9.47 million students globally.

A key pillar of SPARK™ is its focus on science education through Merck’s Curiosity Programs, which include Curiosity Labs™ and the Curiosity Cube™. The Curiosity Cube™, a mobile laboratory, travels across multiple continents to deliver hands-on science experiences, while Curiosity Labs™ provides structured learning sessions designed to spark interest in scientific discovery. Beyond science education, the program also supports broader community initiatives such as site visits, civic engagement activities, and the company’s annual Global Food Drive.

Employees participating in SPARK™ are provided with up to 16 hours of paid volunteer time each year, enabling them to engage in activities that align with both personal interests and community needs. While the program operates on a global scale, it is organized locally by employee-led teams to ensure relevance and responsiveness to individual communities.

Looking ahead, Merck has outlined ambitious targets for SPARK™ as it enters its next phase. The company aims to directly reach two million students and indirectly impact 75 million through nonprofit partnerships. Additional goals include accumulating 650,000 volunteer hours across employees in 66 countries, expanding the Curiosity Cube™ to three more continents, and delivering 12,000 Curiosity Labs™ sessions.

These objectives reflect Merck’s ongoing commitment to strengthening science education and supporting the communities in which it operates, while inspiring future generations to engage with science and innovation.

Media Relations:
Jenny Wuestner
+49 151 1454 3158

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 62,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2025, Merck generated sales of € 21.1 billion in 65 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.

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Merck, SPARK™, Curiosity Labs™ and Curiosity Cube™ are trademarks of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Detailed information on trademarks is available via publicly accessible resources.

SOURCE: Merck KGaA