Merck signals future direction with unveiling of new Sydney office

Merck

• Co-location of Healthcare and Life Science divisions in innovation precinct will facilitate collaboration

• Move aims to expand Merck’s local research and partnership potential in diverse growth areas
• Design prioritises workplace connectivity, employee wellbeing and the environment
Sydney, Australia, 13 November 2019 – Merck, a leading science and technology company, today unveiled its new Sydney office at an official opening event in the innovation hub of Macquarie Park. The move to 11 Talavera Road aims to further Merck’s local growth, capabilities and business partnerships and brings together – for the first time in one location – more than 120 Sydney employees from the company’s Healthcare and Life Science divisions.
Staff were joined by guests from the science, technology, academic and health communities as Merck detailed the leading-edge technology and contemporary design features of the bespoke premises. The celebration also included a showcase of the diverse range of products and services provided by Merck’s three divisions – Healthcare, Life Science and Performance Materials.
Global and local Merck executives were joined by employees as the office was formally declared open by John Alexander OAM, Federal Member for Bennelong, and Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Executive Board and the Family Board of E. Merck KG.
“Merck has a 351-year heritage and as the family of owners, we want to build on this successful legacy for future generations. We are proud of our company and its people – about 56,000 curious minds dedicated to human progress. They are pushing the boundaries of possibility to create opportunities for everyone – here in Australia and in more than 60 further countries around the world,” said Dr. Stangenberg-Haverkamp.
Merck Healthcare Managing Director & General Manager for Australia/New Zealand, Leah Goodman, said, “This is a very significant milestone in the history of Merck in Australia. This workspace has been designed to encourage productivity, creativity and employee wellbeing, and is aligned with Merck’s global mission to apply its scientific expertise to making a positive difference to people’s lives.”
Bradley Simpson, Life Science Managing Director for Australia/New Zealand, said,¬ “This is an exciting time as Life Science comes together with Healthcare under one roof to further drive the success of our businesses, and of the wider scientific community, demonstrating that Merck is truly a ‘vibrant science and technology company.”
Fast facts: Merck’s new Sydney home:*
• Merck joins 180 large international and 200 small businesses in the Macquarie Park Innovation District
• Macquarie Park is also home to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital and many leading global pharmaceutical and life sciences companies as well as Australian biotechnology businesses and technology start-ups
• The office’s leading-edge technology is ‘future-proof’ and a significant investment in secure connectivity has been made to enable failsafe internal and external (B2B) communications; in addition, a ‘cordless’ style is supported, with WIFI and network access in all areas including outdoors
• There are 30 combined meeting and collaboration spaces, both formal and informal, in a range of shapes and sizes in a style called ‘activity-based working’ (ABW) – supporting the wide variety of work conducted in any one day. Merck is among the first science and technology companies in Australia to adopt this contemporary approach to working
• Natural light permeates the office with a large internal café-style break-out space for 150 people and an expansive outdoor terrace
• Merck’s vibrant branding is applied throughout with abundant greenery
• Environmental considerations include:
o Use of cloud-based printing, shown to reduce unnecessary paper usage
o Low energy-use technology (lighting, monitors etc)
o Building’s 5.0 star NABERS Energy Rating and 4.0 star NABERS Water Rating, which met Merck’s site sustainability criteria
* The Merck Life Science business will continue to be officially head-quartered at its existing Bayswater, Victoria facility.
Three businesses, one vision:
• Merck Australia and New Zealand is an integral part of the global science and technology company known as Merck Group
• Inspired by curiosity and driven by research, Merck has three divisions – Healthcare, Life Science and Performance Materials:
o Healthcare translates research into new medicines and builds on our current work in the fertility, neurology, endocrinology and oncology therapy areas; recent milestones include several PBS listings highlighted by the Government
o Life Science provides state-of-the-art lab tools, research technologies and services that underpin the range of scientific enterprise in Australia, from equipment and chemical building blocks for clinical research and diagnostics, through setting industry standards in food, beverage and environmental testing, to lab-water provision, pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality control
o Performance Materials provides specialty materials and chemicals for displays, computer chips and all kind of surfaces to literally brighten the world around us and constantly advances technology to power smart devices and vehicles for a more sustainable future
/Public Release.