The Max Planck Society: a powerhouse for Nobel Prizes
Next week, the spotlight turns once again to Stockholm, where from Monday to Wednesday the Nobel Committee will announce this year’s Nobel Prizes in the natural sciences
The countdown to the Nobel Prizes is here: starting 6 October 2025, all eyes turn to Stockholm as Nobel week begins in Stockholm on Monday with Physiology or Medicine, followed by Physics on 7 October and Chemistry on 8 October. Since 1901, the prizes endowed by Alfred Nobel have been awarded across six categories. Once again, researchers from the Max Planck Society are potential candidates for prizes in the natural science disciplines.
The most recent laureate was Ferenc Krausz of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics in Stockholm on December 10. His success marked the sixth consecutive Nobel Prize for the Max Planck Society since 2020, and the 31st in its history, tracing back to the Kaiser Wilhelm Society (KWG).
A reason to celebrate
Since its foundation, the Max Planck Society (including its predecessor, the Kaiser Wilhelm Society) has produced 31 Nobel laureates. The most recent was Ferenc Krausz, who in 2023 shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Pierre Agostini of Ohio State University (USA) and Anne L’Huillier of Lund University (Sweden). The Nobel Committee honoured all three for establishing the field of attosecond physics.
With laser pulses lasting only a few attoseconds (an attosecond is one billionth of one billionth of a second), the movements of individual electrons can be tracked. This provides fundamental insights into the behaviour of electrons in atoms, molecules, and solids, and could also contribute to the development of faster electronic components. Krausz is also working on medical applications: novel blood scans could one day help diagnose diseases at an early stage.
Only one university has been more successful
According to the Nobel Foundation’s records, Krausz is the 31st Nobel laureate from the Max Planck Society. In terms of Nobel Prizes in the natural sciences, the Max Planck Society ranks second worldwide, behind the University of California and ahead of Harvard University. Since 2020, Max Planck researchers have won the award every year – receiving double honours in two categories in both 2020 and 2021.
Digital story provides insights
The Max Planck Society offers a comprehensive look at this topic through its digital story, "Pioneers of Science: The Nobel Laureates of the Max Planck Society". This resource also provides extensive information about the "Nobel system" and Nobel Week. The story traces history far back, starting with Richard Willstätter, who in 1915 was the first researcher from the Kaiser Wilhelm Society (which later became the Max Planck Society in 1948) to receive the award.
Eight thematic stories explore how Nobel Prize-winning research has transformed everyday life and how science has revolutionized our worldview—including our understanding of the power of research. Striking examples from Max Planck’s history include the discovery of nuclear fission and Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Following the footsteps of Nobel Laureates
Those living in and around Berlin can also participate in a special tour: "In the footsteps of Nobel Prize Winners." Few other places have seen as many Nobel laureates at the same time as Dahlem. Participants on the tour will learn interesting facts about the research and lives of these scientists – from Albert Einstein to Werner Heisenberg.
Please note: This article was first published on 2 October 2024 and updated one year later, on 2 October 2025
