Frequently Asked Questions

You can register for an account by clicking the ‘Login/Register’ link in the upper right corner of this homepage and then clicking the 'MEG Applicant Registration' button. During registration, you will be requested to provide specific organizational and personal information and agree with the Privacy Declaration and Legal Disclaimer. After registration, you will be provided with your own password protected page that you can access using your username and password.

In the unlikely case that you do not receive an e-mail notification confirming your registration, please contact: support@smartsimple.com.

If you have forgotten your password, please click on the ‘Forgot Password?’ link on the STARTone Portal Login page. After entering your e-mail address, you will receive a link by e-mail allowing you to specify a new password.

In the unlikely case that you cannot log into your account, despite using the correct username and password, please contact: support@smartsimple.com.

It is possible to save your application at any given time. To do so, click on the 'Save Draft’ button. You can access your proposal and continue working at any time via your own password protected page, as long as the proposal is submitted before the given deadline. Once you have submitted your proposal, it is no longer possible to change details.

In the creation process of a Medical Education Grant proposal, you will have the possibility to upload additional files and supporting documents in the dedicated "Supporting Documents" tab within the Proposal record before submitting the proposal.

We support Independent Medical Education (IME), Continuing Medical Education (CME), Fellowship Programs and the development of Treatment Guidelines. We do not support promotional and/or product-related activities with this grant system.

Medical societies, universities, hospitals, research organizations and specialized medical education providers are eligible to apply for medical education grants. Individuals cannot apply for funding. We shall not provide medical education funding for an activity, if the grant requestor or an educational partner (including a parent or sister company) is conducting or could potentially conduct any Merck promotional activities, unless - as per Merck policy - an adequate system to prevent improper influence and ensure separation of such activities is in place.

Merck shall not exercise any control over or influence the educational program’s organization, operation, content, materials, faculty, speakers, presenters, moderators, audience, or venue. The funding recipient is responsible for and shall maintain control over the identification of educational needs; determination of educational objectives; selection of content, faculty or other persons and organizations that will be in a position to control the content of the activity, educational methods, materials, target audience, and venue; evaluations; and presentation of content.

Medical Education Grant proposals can be submitted in response to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued on the Medical Education Grant System. The application procedure has a streamlined and adapted process: the initial and subsequent detailed application have been combined into one application. This new process approach allows a quicker evaluation of the proposed program as the medical education provider will create only one medical education proposal with all the detailed program information. Each application will undergo a two-step evaluation process to assess the application after which a decision will be made regarding the award of medical education funding. Only when a Medical Education Funding Agreement has been signed by both parties, does Merck commit to provide funding.

Yes, you can submit more than one application at the same time via your password protected page. Each proposal will require an individual workflow in the Medical Education Grant System.

Yes, you will be informed that your proposal has been submitted. We will keep you updated about the progress of your grant application via automated e-mail notifications, as well as on your password protected "My Dashboard" page within the Medical Education Grant System. If you do not receive these e-mail notifications, please contact us: support@smartsimple.com

You can track the progress and status of your proposal on your password protected "My Dashboard" page within the Medical Education Grant System.

You will be informed about the status of your proposal and the final grant decision, by automated e-mail notifications, as well as via your password protected "My Dashboard" page within the Medical Education Grant System. If you do not receive these e-mail notifications, please contact us: support@smartsimple.com.

Once your proposal have been approved, we will prepare a Medical Education Funding Agreement to be signed by the provider and Merck. Only when this agreement has been signed by both parties do we commit to provide financial support for a medical education program.

If you have any changes of scope, you can initiate the amendment process workflow for your proposal in the Medical Education Grant System and in such cases further approval is required.

Following any program, financial reconciliation is required. Any unused funds must be returned to Merck and cannot be used for other activities without prior approval.

No, generally, any unused funds must be returned to Merck and cannot be used for other activities without prior approval.

No, it is not possible to retrospectively apply for medical education funding. If a program was initiated in the past and is part of a series of events, funding for future program components can be applied for.

No, all proposals received in response to any given RFP will be treated and reviewed equally.

We fund medical education programs globally, with the exception of the USA. Medical education providers located in the USA, or for activities taking place in the USA, please visit our US subsidiary at https://grants.emdserono.com.

Occasionally, RFPs may also be issued in other disease areas. These RFPs will be indicated on the homepage.

No, promotional and / or product-related medical education is not supported by the Merck Medical Education Grant System.