Inventing and Building HTE Technology for End-Users: The Merck/Analytical Sales and Services Collaboration — An Interview

This chapter showcases the many examples in which collaborations between scientists in small molecule process and medicinal chemistry, technology inventors at Merck & Co. (known as MSD outside of the U.S. and Canada) and engineers at Analytical Sales and Services have provided technological solutions for the high throughput experimentation (HTE) field. Illustrated by figures of the devices and solutions that were developed over many years under the framework of this collaboration, this chapter is a transcript of a recorded virtual interview that took place on November 30, 2021. Most of the devices discussed are now commercially available and benefit HTE users worldwide. The conversation explores the technical, scientific, business, and human aspects of collaboration, aiming to provide intimate insight into the reasons for the success of the ongoing partnership.