Merck Celebrates 10 Years of SPARK™, Mobilizing Employee Volunteers to Inspire the Next Generation in STEM

(SeaPRwire) –   Darmstadt, Germany, March 18, 2026 —

• Employee volunteer program brings hands-on science learning to communities worldwide
• More than 600,000 students reached and nearly 200,000 employee volunteer hours
• Ambitious 2035 goals aim to double student reach and expand global impact

Merck, a leading science and technology company, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of SPARK™, its global employee volunteer program that connects employees with communities through hands-on science learning and local service.

For the past decade, SPARK™ has been instrumental in bringing science to life for students via interactive experiences, classroom learning, and community partnerships, driven by employees who contribute their time, expertise, and enthusiasm.

“SPARK™ embodies our identity as scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers who are committed to making science accessible to everyone,” stated Karen Madden, Chief Technology Officer of the Life Science business of Merck. “Over the last ten years, our employees have enabled students to engage with science in tangible ways. As we embark on our next phase, we are dedicated to expanding access and fostering inspiration for the next generation of innovators.”

Since 2016, SPARK™ has broadened its international reach, with employees from 48 countries dedicating nearly 200,000 volunteer hours and directly engaging over 600,000 students. Through collaborations with non-profit organizations, the program has indirectly reached an additional 9.47 million students globally. Science education is a core component of SPARK™, facilitated by the company’s Curiosity Programs, which include Curiosity Labs™ and the Curiosity Cube™, a mobile science laboratory that travels across three continents offering interactive science experiences. Beyond science-focused activities, employees also support community initiatives such as site tours, civic events, and the company’s annual Global Food Drive.

Each employee is allocated up to 16 hours of paid volunteer time annually to participate in activities that hold significance for them and their communities. While SPARK™ operates globally, events are locally organized by dedicated employee-led SPARK™ teams, ensuring that activities are tailored to the specific needs of each community.

As the program enters its second decade, Merck has established ambitious objectives: to reach two million students through direct programming and 75 million students via non-profit partners, accumulate 650,000 volunteer hours from employees in 66 countries, extend the Curiosity Cube™ to three additional continents, and deliver 12,000 Curiosity Labs™ lessons.

These goals highlight the company’s ongoing dedication to increasing access to science education and reinforcing the communities where its employees reside and work.

Further details about SPARK™ and the company’s Curiosity Programs can be found on our Employee and Community Engagement website.

About Merck

Merck, a prominent science and technology company, operates in the life science, healthcare, and electronics sectors. With over 62,000 employees, the company strives daily to make a positive impact on the lives of millions by creating more joyful and sustainable ways of living. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing, to discovering unique approaches for treating the most challenging diseases, and enabling the intelligence of devices, Merck’s influence is widespread. In 2025, Merck achieved sales of €21.1 billion across 65 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been pivotal to Merck’s technological and scientific advancements, enabling its success since its founding in 1668. The founding family continues to hold the majority ownership of the publicly listed company. Merck possesses the global rights to the Merck name and brand, with the sole exceptions of the United States and Canada, where its business sectors operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.

All Merck press releases are disseminated via email concurrently with their availability on the Merck website. To register online, modify your selections, or unsubscribe, please visit www.merckgroup.com/subscribe.

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 accessible through publicly available resources.

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• Merck Marks 10 Years of SPARK™

CONTACT: Jenny Wuestner
Merck
+4915114543158
jenny.wuestner@merckgroup.com