Applications are now open for the 2026 edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit (MARS) Awards, which recognize outstanding African women researchers and young scientists working in health-related fields.
Run by the Merck Foundation – the philanthropic arm of German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA – the annual awards have two categories: Best African Female Researcher and Best Young African Researcher. The winners receive a funded three-month research training placement at a premier institute in India, as well as an invitation to the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, a high-level gathering of scientists, policy makers and global health leaders.
Last date of application is 30 June 2026.
what the awards are really about
MARS has been running since 2016. It specifically focuses on research related to women's health, reproductive care and fertility. The summit is organized with the scientific support of the African Union Scientific-Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC), the Africa Reproductive Care Society (ARCS) and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in India.
The program does not have cash rewards. This is a professional development opportunity. Winners are enrolled in structured research training designed to strengthen their technical skills and broaden their exposure to the global research network. To date, more than 90 researchers from across the continent have been recognized through the awards.
Who can apply
To be eligible, applicants must be primarily affiliated with an African university or research institution. Collaborative projects involving partners outside Africa are welcome, but the lead researcher must be Africa-based. Submissions should be in the form of research abstracts demonstrating scientific rigor, originality and relevance to Africa's public health priorities – particularly regarding women's health and reproductive care.
Applications can be submitted via email to mars@merck-foundation.com or through the online portal Merck Foundation website.
A Kenyan has won before
In 2023, Stella Irungu of Kenya won the Best African Female Researcher Award for her work on identifying biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis. She went to attend the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) conference as part of her accreditation. Other previous winners have come from South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The 2024 winners included researchers from South Africa and Ghana in the Women category and researchers from DRC in the Young Researchers category.
The big picture: Women in STEM across Africa
The MARS Awards exist within the broader context of persistent gender inequality in African science. According to UNESCO, only 30% of science professionals on the continent are women. In some West and Central African countries, women represent less than 15% of engineering and technology researchers. Globally, only 35% of STEM graduates are women – this figure is 25% or even lower in many African countries.
These numbers aren't just about representation for themselves. It is estimated that by 2030 Africa's youth population will account for 42% of the world's youth. If half the population faces structural barriers to entering scientific careers, the continent will lose enormous amounts of research capacity, innovation capacity and economic output.
Programs like MARS go hand in hand with other efforts to close this gap. Various organizations have launched STEM-focused scholarship and fellowship programs targeting African students and researchers, ranging from fintech-specific training to broader research grants. run by UNESCO Equatorial Guinea Fellowship Program for Young Women Scientists in AfricaOffering $25,000 grants to two young African women scientists each year.
Merck Foundation Comprehensive Scholarship Program
Beyond MARS, the Merck Foundation runs a comprehensive scholarship program that has provided more than 2,500 medical training opportunities to healthcare professionals in 52 countries, covering 44 specialty areas. Nearly half of those scholarships – about 1,200 – have been awarded to women. The foundation says that many of its alumni have become the first experts in their respective fields in countries including Namibia, Liberia, Gambia, Burundi and Sierra Leone.
The foundation also runs an initiative called Educating Linda, which provides annual scholarships to underprivileged schoolgirls in 19 African countries. That program has supported more than 1,200 girls to date.
how to apply
Researchers interested in MARS Awards 2026 should prepare a well-structured abstract outlining their research objectives, methodology and findings. Presentations should focus on women's health and reproductive care.
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