Merck KGaA, the big German pharmaceutical and life sciences company, has launched a new innovations wing of its business at Austin's Capital Factory.
Staffed with a four-person team, Merck's Austin Tech Startup Factory is designed to help integrate new digital innovations using virtual and augmented reality into the company's internal and external business processes.
For example, the company has developed a VR program that features a virtual bioreactor, a large and complicated machine used to test biological reactions. The VR program is used to help train people how to use the machine, which is difficult to transport, without actually using it, said Darrio Kolenko, head of digital business development and ventures.
"If you want to showcase it to customers, you'd have to bring this huge thing, which is almost impossible," he said. "So you have to bring that experience with you -- and that's VR."
The addition of the Merck team comes as bioscience and health technology have been rapidly expanding in Austin as the newly-0pened Dell Medical School and associated innovation zone downtown continue to grow and become more well-known. But, don't confuse this Merck with the other Merck -- Merck & Co. Inc. That's the other big, U.S.-based pharmaceutical company that is planning to bring 600 new jobs to the city as part of a $856,000 incentive package approved by the Austin City Council.
Now that we have that cleared up, watch as Merck CIO Jim Stewart explains why Merck came to Austin and Capital Factory before he and Capital Factory Founder Joshua Baer cut the ribbon on the new project.
