Merck, a global science and technology leader, and Singapore-based innovation company ChemLex have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a strategic collaboration aimed at transforming research and development workflows.

 

The agreement signals a shared commitment to accelerating life sciences and electronics discoveries by combining Merck’s scientific expertise with ChemLex’s AI-powered automated chemistry platform. Together, the companies aim to boost the speed, efficiency, and reproducibility of chemical research across early discovery and development programs.

 

Under the MoU, the two firms will explore cooperation in automated synthesis, reaction optimization, high-throughput experimentation, and chemistry platform integration. Initial efforts will focus on identifying high-impact chemistry programs and mapping potential pathways for future collaboration.

 

Marc Horn, President of Merck China, said: "This strategic partnership with ChemLex integrates AI and automation into our R&D operations, demonstrating Merck's commitment to embrace digital transformation and accelerate innovation. We look forward to creating greater value for our customers through this collaboration."

 

Sean Lin, Founder and CEO of ChemLex, added: "Our proprietary chemical synthesis platform that operates 24/7 with an AI closed-loop feedback mechanism, is redefining the efficiency boundaries of chemical synthesis. 

 

"The in-depth collaboration with Merck China not only provides us with valuable opportunities to validate and optimize our technology in broader application scenarios but also enables us to explore the future of intelligent chemical synthesis alongside world-class research teams."

 

The MoU underscores both companies’ commitment to scalable, data-rich experimental science and long-term partnerships at the intersection of chemistry and automation. Discussions on next steps under the framework are ongoing.