Merck's SPARK™ Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Providing Hands-on Science Learning to 600,000 People Worldwide

On March 18, 2026, Merck, a leading science and technology company based in Darmstadt, Germany, announced the 10th anniversary of its global employee volunteer program, SPARK™. This program connects employees with local communities through hands-on science education and community engagement. Over the past decade, SPARK™ volunteers have dedicated their time and expertise to engage children in science through interactive experiences, classroom sessions, and community partnerships. Karen Madden, CTO of Merck's Life Science business, stated that SPARK™ reflects Merck's desire to make science accessible to everyone. Since 2016, SPARK™ has expanded globally, with employees in 48 countries contributing nearly 200,000 volunteer hours to directly provide hands-on learning to over 600,000 children and students. Additionally, it has indirectly reached 9.47 million children worldwide through collaborations with non-profit organizations. In Japan, SPARK™ activities began in 2016, including science experiment classes for elementary school students at the Science Museum in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and participation in Hills Workshop for Kids in 2025, focusing on environmental themes like water filtration and green chemistry. Merck also supports the Japan Biology Olympiad, Chemistry Grand Prix, and projects encouraging high school girls in STEM careers. The core of SPARK™ is its Curiosity programs, including Curiosity Labs™ and Curiosity Cube™, a mobile science lab that has provided interactive science experiences across three continents. Merck volunteers also support local initiatives such as facility tours, public events, and global food drives. Employees can take up to 16 hours of paid volunteer time annually (up to 2 days in Japan) for meaningful activities. SPARK™ is a global program, but local teams organize events reflecting regional needs. For its next decade, SPARK™ aims to reach 2 million children directly through Merck-hosted programs and 75 million through non-profit partnerships. It also targets 650,000 volunteer hours from employees in 66 countries, deployment of Curiosity Cube™ to three new continents, and 12,000 Curiosity Labs™ sessions. These goals demonstrate Merck's ongoing commitment to expanding access to science education and developing communities where its employees live and work.