Company patents

Merck Patent GmbH

Merck Patent GmbH's patent strategy reveals a surprising broad decline across its core areas, with its largest category, Functional Materials (LCD, Lubricants), showing a significant 23.2% YoY decline in 2025 and a further 39.7% decline so far in 2026, while its second largest, Heterocyclic Compounds (Pharma), also saw an 18.8% decline in 2025 and a 42.3% decline so far in 2026. Despite this overall contraction, the company is showing an emerging focus on Photolithography, which grew by 27.3% in 2025, indicating a strategic shift towards semiconductor-related innovations even as other areas are deprioritized, notably Specialty Semiconductor Devices (Legacy) which saw a 100.0% decline in 2025.

Patent Trend by Technology Area

Yearly patent publications since 2023

Product themes

Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.

944 US filings (since 2023) · 12 categories · 39 themes

OLED Emitter Materials

Development and optimization of organic chemical compounds and their structures, including guest-host systems and metal complexes, used within the emission layer to achieve specific light emission characteristics such as color, efficiency, and operational lifetime.

Functional Materials (LCD, Lubricants)Organic Electronics (OLED)Acyclic / Cyclic Compounds (Other Elements)Specialty Semiconductor Devices (Legacy)
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271since 2023
-19.4%YoY
Functional Organic Materials

Synthesis and application of organic compounds designed to impart specific functionalities in material science, such as photosensitivity or charge transport, for electronic or optical devices.

Acyclic / Carbocyclic Compounds
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210since 2023
-9.8%YoY
Liquid Crystal Compositions

Mixtures of liquid crystal compounds and other additives, such as monomers or carbon black, designed to achieve specific optical, electrical, or physical properties for use in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) or other electro-optical devices.

Functional Materials (LCD, Lubricants)
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205since 2023
-17.5%YoY
Photopolymerization for Device Fabrication

Light-initiated polymerization processes used to create structures, coatings, or components, particularly for electronic devices, displays, or additive manufacturing, often involving photoinitiators and specific monomer/oligomer compositions.

Polymer Synthesis (Polymerization)
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78since 2023
+9.1%YoY
Targeted Small Molecule Therapeutics

Design and synthesis of acyclic or carbocyclic organic compounds that selectively modulate specific biological targets or pathways for the treatment of diseases.

Heterocyclic Compounds (Pharma)Pharmaceutical PreparationsAcyclic / Carbocyclic Compounds
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74since 2023
+5.3%YoY
Advanced Photoresist Materials

Development of novel chemical compositions for photoresists, including polymers, sensitizers, and crosslinking agents, to achieve improved lithographic performance such as resolution, sensitivity, line edge roughness, and etch resistance.

Photolithography
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62since 2023
+38.9%YoY
Substrate Patterning & Processingfiltered

Methods and equipment for applying photoresist uniformly onto wafers, forming patterns through various exposure techniques (e.g., direct imaging, multi-exposure), and integrating patterned layers into semiconductor structures or packaging.

Photolithography
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58since 2023
-5.0%YoY
Targeted Protein Degradation

Development of small molecules, often bifunctional (e.g., PROTACs) or molecular glues, that induce the ubiquitin-proteasome system or autophagy to selectively degrade specific disease-causing proteins.

Heterocyclic Compounds (Pharma)
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48since 2023
-52.6%YoY
CMP Slurry Formulations

Abrasive slurry compositions used in semiconductor manufacturing for planarizing wafer surfaces, typically containing abrasive particles and chemical additives to achieve specific material removal rates and selectivity.

Functional Materials (LCD, Lubricants)
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45since 2023
+18.2%YoY
Display Panel Manufacturing & Encapsulation

Techniques and structural designs for fabricating the physical layers of an OLED display, including material deposition, patterning, and methods to protect the active organic layers from environmental degradation like moisture and oxygen.

Organic Electronics (OLED)
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39since 2023
+25.0%YoY
Advanced Display Backlight & Optics

Innovations in backlight units, optical films, and light management structures to enhance display performance, uniformity, viewing experience, or specific functionalities like touch.

Liquid Crystal & Optical Modulators
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37since 2023
-60.0%YoY
Biomedical Polymer Formulations

Polymer compositions tailored for medical and biological applications, including implantable devices, drug delivery systems, and diagnostic tools, emphasizing properties like biocompatibility, hydrolysis resistance, optical clarity, and specific mechanical characteristics.

Polymer Synthesis (Polymerization)
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33since 2023
-66.7%YoY
Advanced Curing Chemistries

Novel formulations and mechanisms for initiating or controlling the polymerization and cross-linking of adhesives, including dual-curing systems, radical polymerization, and partial curing for tailored material properties.

Coating Compositions (Paints, Inks)
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30since 2023
+42.9%YoY
Antibody Engineering & Therapeutics

Design and modification of antibodies or antibody-derived fragments for targeted therapeutic intervention, including bispecific formats, Fc region modifications, and activatable constructs.

Pharmaceutical PreparationsTherapeutic Activity (Pharma)
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26since 2023
+66.7%YoY
Advanced Cell & Gene Therapies

Development of therapeutic approaches involving the genetic modification of cells (e.g., T cells, stem cells, macrophages) or the use of viral/non-viral vectors to deliver genetic material for disease treatment.

Pharmaceutical Preparations
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25since 2023
-22.2%YoY
Targeted Drug Formulation Delivery

Delivery systems specifically engineered to administer advanced drug formulations (e.g., microparticles, biologics, extended-release systems) to achieve precise targeting, controlled release kinetics, or enhanced therapeutic efficacy within the body.

Pharmaceutical Preparations
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23since 2023
-42.9%YoY
Immune Checkpoint Modulation

Therapeutic interventions that target immune checkpoint pathways to either enhance or suppress immune responses, often used in cancer immunotherapy or autoimmune diseases.

Therapeutic Activity (Pharma)
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22since 2023
-42.9%YoY
API Solid Form Engineering

Techniques for preparing and characterizing specific solid forms, such as crystal forms, salts, co-crystals, or amorphous forms, of active pharmaceutical ingredients to optimize properties like stability, solubility, and bioavailability.

Heterocyclic Compounds (Pharma)
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20since 2023
-11.1%YoY
Functional Coatings and Surface Modifiers

Additives or compositions specifically formulated for surface application or modification to impart protective, decorative, or specialized functional properties to polymer products.

Coating Compositions (Paints, Inks)
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20since 2023
+50.0%YoY
Electrophoretic Display Control

Techniques for driving electrophoretic displays, including managing remnant voltage, optimizing particle movement, and specific addressing pulse schemes to improve optical quality and update speed.

Liquid Crystal & Optical Modulators
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18since 2023
-42.9%YoY
Nucleic Acid-Based Therapies

Therapeutic strategies employing nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides) to modulate gene expression, deliver genetic material, or interfere with disease-causing pathways. Includes gene therapy using viral vectors.

Pharmaceutical PreparationsTherapeutic Activity (Pharma)
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15since 2023
+150.0%YoY
Recombinant Protein & Peptide Therapeutics

Development and application of therapeutic proteins or peptides produced through recombinant DNA technology, including fusion proteins and modified growth factors.

Therapeutic Activity (Pharma)
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15since 2023
-25.0%YoY
Cellular Immunotherapy

Therapeutic approaches involving the use of living cells, often genetically modified or ex vivo activated, to treat diseases, particularly cancer, by modulating immune responses or replacing damaged cells.

Therapeutic Activity (Pharma)
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13since 2023
-50.0%YoY
Polymer Composites with Functional Fillers

Polymer compositions incorporating inorganic or organic filler materials to impart specific functional properties such as thermal conductivity, flame retardancy, electrical conductivity, or enhanced mechanical strength and dimensional stability.

Coating Compositions (Paints, Inks)
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11since 2023
new
Quantum Dot Semiconductor Structures

Engineering and fabrication of semiconductor structures incorporating quantum dots, often for quantum information processing (e.g., spin qubits) or advanced light-emitting applications, focusing on controlled growth and isolation.

Specialty Semiconductor Devices (Legacy)
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11since 2023
0.0%YoY
Display Pixel & Optical Materials

Optical and pixel-defining materials for display panels, including black matrix compositions, color filter pigments, optical alignment films, and pixel-define layers.

Liquid Crystal & Optical Modulators
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9since 2023
-66.7%YoY
Resistive & Phase Change Memory

Development of memory cells utilizing resistive switching or phase-change materials, including novel material compositions, multi-layered structures, and integration with selector devices like bipolar junction transistors, to achieve non-volatile storage.

Specialty Semiconductor Devices (Legacy)
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8since 2023
-66.7%YoY
Advanced Mask Technologies

Innovations in the design, materials, and manufacturing of lithography masks, including reflective masks, programmable masks, and defect mitigation strategies, to enable finer feature patterning and process control.

Photolithography
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7since 2023
-66.7%YoY
Chemical Synthesis of Drug Intermediates

Processes and methodologies for the efficient and scalable preparation of complex heterocyclic compounds and their precursors, including specific reaction conditions, purification techniques, and intermediate compounds.

Heterocyclic Compounds (Pharma)
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6since 2023
+100.0%YoY
Advanced Polymerization Processes

Novel methods and reactor designs for polymer synthesis, focusing on improving efficiency, achieving continuous production, or controlling specific polymer architectures and product morphologies like particle size or sheet formation.

Polymer Synthesis (Polymerization)
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6since 2023
+100.0%YoY
Magnetic Random Access Memory Structures

Design and fabrication techniques for magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cells, focusing on magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack profiles, electrode configurations, and dielectric encapsulation to improve performance and reliability.

Specialty Semiconductor Devices (Legacy)
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5since 2023
0.0%YoY
Display Optical Enhancements

Components and techniques aimed at improving the visual quality of OLED displays, such as color accuracy, contrast, brightness uniformity, and reducing reflections or glare through optical layers and coatings.

Organic Electronics (OLED)
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4since 2023
+100.0%YoY
Integrated Touch Sensors

Methods and structures for incorporating touch sensing capabilities directly into OLED display panels, typically involving conductive layers and insulating layers within or on top of the display stack.

Organic Electronics (OLED)
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4since 2023
0.0%YoY
Metasurface & Diffractive Optics

Engineering of artificial subwavelength structures (meta-atoms) to create metasurfaces that manipulate light properties (phase, polarization, wavelength) for multi-functional optical devices.

Liquid Crystal & Optical Modulators
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3since 2023
new
Specialty Solvents and Coolants

Formulated liquid compositions designed for specific industrial applications, such as non-flammable cleaning, thermal management in electronics, or as low-viscosity, high-flash-point base fluids.

Functional Materials (LCD, Lubricants)
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3since 2023
n/a
Photonic Integration & Interconnects

The design and manufacturing of integrated circuits that combine optical and electronic components, particularly for high-speed data communication between processors and memory.

Liquid Crystal & Optical Modulators
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2since 2023
new
Industrial Organic Synthesis

Methods and apparatus for the efficient and selective production of organic compounds, including amines, acids, and esters, often involving catalytic or continuous processes and purification steps.

Acyclic / Carbocyclic Compounds
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2since 2023
n/a
Energy Storage & Conversion Materials

Chemical compounds developed for applications in energy storage devices, such as rechargeable lithium batteries, often functioning as electrolyte additives to improve performance, safety, or lifespan.

Acyclic / Cyclic Compounds (Other Elements)
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1since 2023
new
Electronics Encapsulation & Sealing

Materials and processes for hermetic encapsulation, conformal coating, optical chip sealing, and stretchable conductors for electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Organic Electronics (OLED)
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1since 2023
n/a

Patents

Page 9 of 10
US 20210382390 A1APPLICATION
G03F7/023

NOVOLAK/DNQ BASED, CHEMICALLY AMPLIFIED PHOTORESIST

Filed:2019-05-22Pub:2021-12-09
Applicant:Merck Patent GmbH

The present invention relates to resist compositions comprising a polymer component, a photoacid generator component (PAG), a photoactive diazonaphthoquinone component (PAC), a base component, a solvent component, and optionally, a heterocyclic thiol component. The polymer component is a Novolak derivative, comprising Novolak repeat units with free phenolic hydroxy moieties, and Novolak repeat units comprising phenolic hydroxy moieties protected with an acid cleavable acetal moiety. The acetal moiety is elected from a mono functional alkyl acetal moiety protecting a repeat unit comprising a Novolak phenolic hydroxy moiety, an acetal, comprising a moiety functionalized with a PAC moiety, protecting a repeat unit comprising a Novolak phenolic hydroxy moiety; a di-functional acetal comprising moiety, linking and protecting two repeat units comprising Novolak phenolic hydroxy moieties, forming a linking point in said polymer component between two different polymer chains in said polymer component, and a mixture of any of these three types of acid cleavable acetal moieties. The PAC component is selected from said acetal, comprising a moiety functionalized with a PAC moiety, protecting a repeat unit comprising a Novolak phenolic hydroxy moiety, a free PAC component, and a mixture of these two types of PAC components. The present invention also relates to the methods of using the present compositions in either in thick or thin film photoresist device manufacturing methodologies.

US 20210191263 A1APPLICATION
G03F7/023

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING HIGH-DEFINED PATTERN AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME

Filed:2018-10-17Pub:2021-06-24
Applicant:Merck Patent GmbH

[Problem] The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a resist pattern of effectively below the resolution limit, which is suitable for use in the liquid crystal display device manufacturing field. In particular, the present invention provides a method of accurately manufacturing a high-defined pattern of below the resolution limit while maintaining or improving a pattern shape having a taper shape. [Means for Solution]A method of manufacturing a high-defined pattern comprising the following steps of: coating a resist composition comprising a novolak resin having an alkali dissolution rate of 100-3,000 Å on a substrate to form a resist composition layer; subjecting said resist composition layer to exposure; developing said resist composition layer to form a resist pattern; heating said resist pattern; subjecting said resist pattern to flood exposure; coating a fine pattern forming composition on the surface of said resist pattern to form a fine pattern forming composition layer; heating said resist pattern and said fine pattern forming composition layer to cure the regions of said fine pattern forming composition layer in the vicinity of said resist pattern and to form an insolubilized layer; removing uncured regions of said fine pattern forming composition layer to form a fine pattern; and heating said fine pattern.