Innovation and Team Spirit: The Magic of Science Competitions Seen through the Lens of the Compound Challenge

• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202317338
• Publication Date: 2024-02-23T12:20:57Z
• Authors: Charles A. Seipp; Brendan Michael M...; Iuliia Karnysh; Ulrich A. K. Betz
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences

Abstract For five years now, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has hosted The Compound Challenge—a global retrosynthesis competition. When the event kicked off in 2018 on occasion of 350 th anniversary company, no one could have predicted path it would take—from a novel competition to pivotal within synthetic chemistry community. But what makes Challenge tick and drives its popularity? And, more importantly, lessons can be taken from applied other challenges scientific education outreach? In this Viewpoint Article we will tell story Challenge, inception current status. Through examining feedback following each iterations, begin define an open innovation challenge so compelling. It is our hope that educators, leaders, innovators able learn successes as well mistakes apply these their future outreach activities.