The Max Planck Society
The Max Planck Society (MPG) operates as Germany’s most successful organization in basic research and is worldrenowned for its cutting-edge research. Since its establishment in 1948, no fewer than 29 Nobel laureates can be found in the ranks of its scientists (as of 2022). The MPG is thus on par with the best and most prestigious research institutions worldwide. Over 15,000 publications each year in internationally renowned journals are further evidence for their outstanding research.
The MPG employs around 24,000 staff. 16,000 of them – in other words about 66 percent – work in the scientific field. The financing of the Max Planck Society is predominantly comprised of basic financing from the public sector, in the year 2020 the MPG is financed to approximately 1,97 billion euros. In addition, the Max Planck Society and its Institutes receive third party project funding from public and private contributions and from the European Union. The federal and state governments jointly provide the subsidies for the budget of the Max Planck Society.
The currently 86 Max Planck Institutes and facilities conduct basic research in the service of the general public in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Max Planck Institutes focus on research fields that are particularly innovative, or that are especially demanding in terms of funding or time requirements. And their research spectrum is continually evolving: new institutes are established to find answers to seminal, forward-looking scientific questions, while others are closed when, for example, their research field has been widely established at universities. This continuous renewal preserves the scope the Max Planck Society needs to react quickly to pioneering scientific developments. Here you can find pictures from the research landscape of the Max Planck Society.
The Max Planck Institutes
Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics
Frankfurt am Main, Hessen
- Cultural Studies
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Leipzig, Saxony
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Behavioural Biology
- Cognitive Science
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
Bibliotheca Hertziana - Max Planck Institute for Art History
Rome, Italy
- Cultural Studies
Max Planck Institute for Human Development
Berlin
- Cultural Studies
- Cognitive Science
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
Martinsried, Bavaria
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Immunobiology
- Infection Biology
- Medicine
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Jena, Thuringia
- Microbiolog
- Ecology
- Earth Sciences
- Climate Research
Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing
Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine
Muenster, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Immunobiology
- Infection Biology
- Medicine
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
Max Planck Institute of Biophysics
Frankfurt am Main, Hessen
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
Associated Institute - Research Center caesar (center of advanced european studies and research)
Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics Immunobiology
- Medicine
- Neurosciences
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry
Goettingen, Lower Saxony
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Neurosciences
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences
- Climate Research
Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems
Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Complex Systems
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
Goettingen, Lower Saxony
- Neurosciences
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
- Complex Systems
Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH
Duesseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Chemistry
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion
Mülheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology
Tuebingen, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Plant Research
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
Associated Institute - Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max-Planck-Society
Frankfurt am Main, Hessen
- Medicine
- Neurosciences
Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Halle (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt
- Cultural Studies
- Jurisprudence
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology
Ploen, Schleswig-Holstein
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Behavioural Biology
Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research
Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Chemistry
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience
FL 33458, USA
- Neurosciences
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society
Tuebingen, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society
Berlin
- Chemistry
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods
Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Jurisprudence
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics
Berlin
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Immunobiology
- Infection
- Biology Medicine
Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies
Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics
Potsdam-Golm, Brandenburg
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Hannover)
Hannover, Lower Saxony
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research
Bad Nauheim, Hessen
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Immunobiology
- Infection Biology
- Medicine
- Physiology
Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics
Freiburg, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Immunobiology
- Infection Biology
- Medicine
Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology
Berlin
- Immunobiology
- Infection Biology
- Medicine
Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition
Munich, Bavaria
- Jurisprudence
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart site
Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Tuebingen site
Tuebingen, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
- Informatics
Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Leipzig, Saxony
- Neurosciences
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung
Muelheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Chemistry
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
Potsdam-Golm, Brandenburg
- Immunobiology
- Infection Biology
- Medicine
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florence - Max Planck Institute
Florence, Italy
- Cultural Studies
Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics
Tuebingen, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Neurosciences
- Cognitive Science
Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law
Luxemburg
- Jurisprudence
Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine
Goettingen, Lower Saxony
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Immunobiology
- Infection Biology
- Medicine
- Neurosciences
Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History
Jena, Thuringia
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Infection Biology
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Linguistics
Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology
Marburg, Hessen
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Ecology
- Plant Research
Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics
Halle (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity
Goettingen, Lower Saxony
- Cultural Studies
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology
Martinsried, Bavaria
- Immunobiology
- Infection Biology
- Medicine
- Neurosciences
Max Planck Research Unit for Neurogenetics
Frankfurt am Main, Hessen
- Genetics
- Medicine
- Neurosciences
- Cell Biology
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
Jena, Thuringia
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Ecology
- Neurosciences
- Plant Research
Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
Seewiesen, Bavaria
- Behavioural Biology
- Microbiology
- Ecology
- Neurosciences
- Physiology
Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Radolfzell site
Radolfzell, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Eevolutionary Biology
- Behavioral Biology
- Ecology
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology
Potsdam-Golm, Brandenburg
- Plant Research
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
- Physiology
Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research
Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Plant Research
Max Planck Institute for Physics
Munich, Bavaria
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light
Erlangen, Bavaria
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids
Dresden, Saxony
- Chemistry
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Garching, Bavaria
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Complex Systems
Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems
Dresden, Saxony
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
- Complex Systems
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology
Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
- Physiology Chemistry
Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics
Garching, Bavaria
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (Greifswald)
Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law
Hamburg
- Jurisprudence
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry
Munich, Bavaria
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Immunobiology
- Infection Biology
- Medicine
- Neurosciences
- Physiology
- Cognitive Science
Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics
Garching, Bavaria
- Particle Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Physics
Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Competition Law
Munich, Bavaria
- Jurisprudence
Max Planck Institute for European Legal History
Frankfurt am Main, Hessen
- Cultural Studies
- Jurisprudence
Max Planck Institute for Software Systems, Kaiserslautern site
Kaiserslautern, Rheinland-Pfalz
- Computer Science
Max Planck Institute for Software Systems, Saarbrücken site
Saarbruecken, Saarland
- Computer Science
Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Goettingen, Lower Saxony
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy
Munich, Baaria
- Jurisprudence
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research
Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Immunobiology
- Infection Biology
- Medicine
- Neurosciences
Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law
Freiburg, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Jurisprudence
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter
Hamburg
- Solid State Research
- Material Sciences
Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg
- Jurisprudence
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
Dresden, Saxony
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Neurosciences
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology