2026 European Forum

DAY 1: Understanding What the Market Ecosystem Needs 

09:00–09:30 | Opening Session: Building the Infrastructure for Transition 

The safer chemistry transition depends on the ability of many stakeholders—including retailers, brands, chemical manufacturers, innovators, policymakers, investors, and civil society organizations—to work within a shared marketplace that rewards innovation and enables progress. 

This opening session will introduce the Forum's central objective: identifying opportunities to strengthen the market infrastructure that supports the transition. Participants will learn how discussions throughout the Forum will contribute to practical tools, frameworks, metrics, and guidance designed to help companies accelerate progress toward safer chemistry. 

09:30–10:30 | Session 1: Creating Clear Market Signals

How can retailers communicate priorities in ways that accelerate innovation? 

Retailers play a critical role in shaping market demand for safer chemistry. Yet formulators, brands, manufacturers, and innovators often face inconsistent expectations, fragmented requirements, and competing priorities when deciding where to invest. 

This interactive session will explore the business drivers, customer expectations, transparency needs, and implementation challenges influencing retailer and brand strategies. Participants will identify opportunities to create clearer and more consistent market signals that can help direct innovation toward the most important market needs. 

Key Question: What information, expectations, and tools would help create stronger and more consistent demand signals for safer chemistry? 

10:30–11:00 | Networking Break

11:00–12:30 | Session 2: Shaping the Policy Environment

How can policy support innovation and adoption? 

Public policy helps shape the conditions under which safer chemistry innovations are developed, commercialized, and adopted. Regulatory and voluntary frameworks, procurement programs, and incentives can all influence investment decisions and market outcomes. 

This session will explore how policy developments in Europe and beyond are affecting the business case for safer chemistry, where policy can help address barriers to adoption, and how public-sector priorities intersect with broader objectives related to sustainability, competitiveness, and innovation. 

Participants will discuss the role of policy in creating an environment that supports both scientific advancement and market uptake. 

Key Question: Which policy approaches can most effectively encourage innovation, investment, and adoption of safer chemistry solutions? 

12:30–13:30 | Networking Lunch

13:30–15:00  | Session 3: Translating Need into Innovation 

How do we define the characteristics of successful alternatives?

Innovation is most effective when innovators understand what success looks like. 

This collaborative working session will explore how value-chain stakeholders can better communicate technical requirements, hazard considerations, sustainability goals, performance needs, and market expectations to the research and innovation community. 

Participants will help identify the information and criteria needed to create more effective innovation briefs and category-specific guidance that can accelerate development of safer chemistry solutions. 

Key Question: How can market needs be translated into practical guidance for innovators and product developers? 

15:00–15:30 | Networking Break

15:30–17:00 | Session 4: Measuring Transition Progress

What metrics can help companies and investors identify leadership?

Organizations increasingly need ways to demonstrate progress toward safer chemistry. At the same time, investors, customers, and other stakeholders need credible information that helps distinguish meaningful action from aspiration. 

This session will explore the role that transition metrics, benchmarks, and disclosure approaches can play in supporting decision-making, accountability, and investment. Participants will discuss what progress should look like, what information is most useful for evaluating performance, and how measurement can help accelerate change. 

Key Question: How should organizations measure and communicate meaningful progress toward safer chemistry? 

Evening Program: 

17:00–18:00 | Merck KGaA Site Tour 

18:00 | Networking Dinner

DAY 2: From Insights to Infrastructure 

09:00–12:00 | Session 5: Co-Creating the Safer Chemistry Transition Framework 

Applying ecosystem insights to practical tools for action 

Day 1 focused on identifying opportunities to strengthen the ecosystem that supports the safer chemistry transition. Day 2 shifts from diagnosis to development. 

Participants will review and provide input on the evolving Safer Chemistry Transition Framework, examining how insights related to market demand, policy conditions, innovation guidance, and performance measurement can be incorporated into a practical framework for companies seeking to accelerate progress. 

Discussion will focus on testing assumptions, identifying gaps, and strengthening the framework's usefulness as a tool for prioritization, implementation, and communication. 

Outputs:

• Transition framework architecture
• Category-specific pathways
• Prioritization approaches
• Benchmarking applications
• Future development priorities

12:00–13:30 | Networking Lunch

13:30–15:00 | Session 6: Developing Transition Tools 

Turning concepts into practical resources

Participants will break into working groups focused on specific components of the infrastructure needed to support the safer chemistry transition. 

Potential topics may include:

• Category-specific transition pathways
• Innovation briefs
• Transition metrics
• Benchmark development
• Investor applications
• Implementation guidance 

Each group will develop recommendations to help guide future Change Chemistry work products.

15:00–15:30  | Closing Session: Priorities for the Year Ahead

Review key insights from the Forum, identify priority next steps, and discuss opportunities for continued collaboration in development of the Safer Chemistry Transition Framework, transition metrics, benchmarks, and other practical tools designed to accelerate the transition to safe and sustainable chemistry. 

Arriving at Frankfurt Airport

The closest major airport to Darmstadt is Frankfurt Airport (FRA), located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the city. 

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) 
Address: 60547 Frankfurt am Main, Germany 
Website: www.frankfurt-airport.com 
 
Frankfurt Airport is well connected by a wide range of transportation options. Whether you're arriving or departing by train, bus, taxi, long-distance coach, or shuttle service, you'll find everything you need here to plan a smooth and hassle-free journey. 

Getting to the Event Venue from Airport 

Merck KGaA in Darmstadt is approximately 25 km (16 miles) from Frankfurt Airport (FRA). Visitors can reach the campus in 20–30 minutes by taxi or 40–55 minutes by regional train and local tram or bus. Taxi service is available directly outside the terminals, while frequent regional trains connect Frankfurt Airport with Darmstadt Central Station throughout the day. From Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof, local public transportation provides convenient access to the Merck campus. 

Company Info: 

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (Headquarters)
Address: Frankfurter Strasse 250 64293 Darmstadt Germany
Phone: +49 6151 72-0 
Website: www.emdgroup.com 

Getting Around Darmstadt 

The main central transit hub is Luisenplatz (downtown), while Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) connects you to the broader region. 

• Trams (Light Rail): The backbone of the city. Modern, fast, and frequent (every 10–15 minutes); trams connect downtown directly to hotels, venues, and the TU Darmstadt campuses. 

• Buses: Local city buses cover areas not reached by trams. 

• Airport Shuttle (AirLiner): A direct express bus runs every 30–60 minutes between Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and Darmstadt Central Station. 

• Regional Trains & S-Bahn: The S3 S-Bahn line and regional trains provide fast, direct connections to Frankfurt, Mainz, and Heidelberg. 

• Ride-Sharing (Uber & FreeNow): Both Uber and FreeNow operate extensively in Darmstadt. 

• Traditional Taxis: Taxi stands are located at major points of interest, including Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and Luisenplatz. Rides can also be hailed on the street or pre-booked online through local dispatchers.  

Quick Traveler Tips: 

• One Ticket Rules All: You don't need separate tickets for different vehicles. Buy a ticket for your zone, and you can transfer freely between trams, buses, and trains. 

• Best Navigation Apps: Download RMVgo or DB Navigator for real-time schedules and digital ticket buying. 

• Darmstadt Card: A budget-friendly 1- or 2-day visitor pass that offers unlimited local transit plus discounts on museums and attractions. 

• Deutschland-Ticket: Fully accepted on all local buses, trams, and regional trains. 
  
  

Parking at Event Venue 

The Merck KGaA global headquarters features a dedicated, signposted visitor parking garage (Besucherparkplatz) specifically for guests visiting the campus. 

• Location: The designated visitors' garage is located just off Frankfurter Straße, roughly 300 meters past the nearby Shell filling station (if approaching from the city center) or accessible via Virchowstraße (if arriving from the northeast). 

• EV Charging: The visitor garage is equipped with charging points for electric vehicles. 

• Check-In Process: Once parked, attendees must cross over to Building B31 (The Merck Innovation Center), which houses the main Visitor Reception. All guests are required to present a valid form of identification (passport or national ID card) to check in and receive their visitor pass.