Cheers to our global gang! 🌍🌟 As the year draws to a close, we're giving a shoutout to the 13,000 amazing contributors on our platform. By leveraging Byron, the exchange within our company becomes more seamless, paving the way for new projects and strengthening our unity within Bayer. 🚀 Presenting this exclusive POAP as a massive thank you, because without you, this platform wouldn't be what it is. 🙌 Byron, an acronym for Bayer Open Network, is our Skills database for Bayer employees, including speed networking. We kicked off in 2018 as a True North grassroots side initiative, going live in 2020. Created by over 40 students and programming enthusiasts with the help of EY Croatia. Today, we have 13,000 registered users from 89 countries, in 293 cities. People have searched for something in Byron at least 25,000 times and engaged in 31,000 1:1 Speed network meetings. http://go/byron Looking ahead, we're thrilled about the future and the prospect of our community growing even larger. Can't wait for more collaborations and successes together in the coming year! 🎉✨ Art created by Lena Schermer

Wine enthusiasts raise their glasses today to celebrate International Merlot Day. We honor the rich, velvety grape that has captured our hearts with its supple charm and accessible elegance. It is believed that the name Merlot is derived from a diminutive form of "merle," the French word for blackbird. Originating from the vineyards of Bordeaux, France, Merlot is today the second most planted grape worldwide. Nestled in over 260,000 hectares of vineyards, about the size of Luxembourg, Merlot is a testament to adaptability and taste. Its ripe tannins and juicy dark fruit flavors of black cherry and hints of herbs make it a crowd-pleaser, while its ability to age gracefully in the bottle endears it to collectors. Merlot has gracefully recovered from the 'Sideways effect'—a temporary decline in demand due to a single film's preference for Pinot Noir. Today, it stands tall, a favorite for its medium-bodied texture and flavors that range from plums and berries to chocolate and bay leaf, depending on the vineyard's terroir. From the casual sipper to the seasoned aficionado, Merlot offers a spectrum of great experiences. Let's savor the depth, indulge in the history, and celebrate the grape that has become a beloved staple in the wine community. Here's to Merlot. Cheers! More: https://wineinternationalassociation.org/7th-november-2023-happy-international-merlot-day/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlot Text based mostly on the references above and ChatGPT-4, Image by Dall-E 3.