News Release
February 28, 2018
Karen Tiano +1 978 495 0093
MilliporeSigma Furthers Scientists’ Research Through Expanded Seeding Labs Partnership
- New TeleScience online platform provides teaching and training to scientists in developing countries
Burlington, Massachusetts, February 28, 2018 — MilliporeSigma today announced an expansion of its partnership with Seeding Labs to accelerate teaching and research for thousands of scientists in the developing world.
MilliporeSigma will be the exclusive sponsor of the Boston-based nonprofit’s new TeleScience online platform. Seeding Labs’ flagship program, called Instrumental Access, helps scientists around the world conduct life-changing research by providing them with lab equipment, training and opportunities to collaborate with experts in their field. The TeleScience online platform takes this support to a new level and leverages MilliporeSigma’s expertise to provide a comprehensive online resource, with educational videos created and led by trained MilliporeSigma employees.
“We have long believed that the greatest scientific breakthroughs start with curious minds, but these curious minds need access to the right equipment and information,” said Udit Batra, CEO, MilliporeSigma. “Through our expanded partnership with Seeding Labs, we are able to provide our expertise and connect the global scientific community to resources it wouldn’t otherwise have, driving innovation and accelerating access to health for people everywhere.”
The TeleScience platform will feature videos presented by MilliporeSigma employees on a wide range of topics, including sterile sampling, single-use, high-performance liquid chromatography, multi-channel pipetting and rebuilding a vacuum pump. Videos will offer tips and techniques for using equipment and troubleshooting problems, as well as building networking skills.
“Scientific talent is everywhere, but resources are not,” said Dr. Nina Dudnik, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Seeding Labs. “Some of the best and brightest minds don’t have access to the tools and support they need to make the next scientific breakthroughs a reality. By sponsoring the TeleScience platform, MilliporeSigma is helping us to further break down geographical barriers and support fellow scientists in the most meaningful and impactful way possible through knowledge sharing and engagement.”
MilliporeSigma first partnered with Seeding Labs in 2013 through a variety of investments: financial support for shipping equipment and supplies to Gulu University in Uganda; in-kind product donations, including 16 spectrophotometers valued at $72,500; and volunteerism, including MilliporeSigma employees’ time to test, package and inventory equipment to be donated to the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe for research focused on agriculture, nutrition and biofuels.
MilliporeSigma demonstrates its commitment and contribution to its surrounding ecosystem by leveraging its expertise and passion to give back to communities around the world in ways that align with its overall business objectives. To strengthen its impact and drive results, MilliporeSigma invests in nonprofit organizations through partnerships that advance scientific research and science education.
To learn more about efforts to date and explore the online TeleScience platform, visit telescience.seedinglabs.org.
About Seeding Labs
Seeding Labs is a Boston-based nonprofit that is accelerating solutions to the world’s most pressing problems by catalyzing the power of scientists in the developing world by helping them conduct life-changing research. Seeding Labs provides scientists with lab equipment, training, and opportunities to collaborate with experts in their field—and to use these vital resources to achieve great things. Seeding Labs‘ flagship program Instrumental Access has supported 56 institutions in 29 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia with more than $6.2M of resources to catalyze scientific research and increase STEM educational opportunities. Through strategic partnerships with the public and private sector, Seeding Labs is breaking down barriers to innovation for thousands of scientists and their students, redrawing the map of global science. Learn more at SeedingLabs.org.
About the Corporate Responsibility Efforts of the Life Science Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Through its corporate responsibility initiatives, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, harnesses the collective expertise, passion and energy of employees to minimize its environmental footprint and positively impact communities around the world.
The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is uniquely positioned to solve the toughest problems in life science through its efforts aligned with strengths in research, innovation and collaboration with the global scientific community. This helps differentiate its business and provides a competitive edge for its customers, while accelerating access to health for people everywhere. The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany demonstrates its commitment to corporate responsibility through extensive programs in three main areas: Greener Products and Solutions — which includes Design for Sustainability, Green Chemistry, Packaging and Recycling initiatives; Employee and Community Engagement; and Sustainable Operations.
The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has 20,000 employees and 60 manufacturing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products enabling scientific discovery. Udit Batra is the global chief executive officer of MilliporeSigma.
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany completed its $17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in November 2015, creating a leader in the $125 billion global life science industry.
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has five businesses – Biopharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Life Science and Performance Materials – and generated sales of €15.3 billion in 2017. Almost 53,000 employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges.
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company – since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. The company holds the global rights to the name and the trademark “Merck” internationally except for the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.