"Democracy cannot be taken for granted"

The highlights of the 2026 Annual Meeting were the presentation of the Max Planck Startup Award and Otto Hahn Medals, and an expert panel discussion on the future of democracy

The future of democracy: expert discussion at the Plenary Assembly

Democracy in crisis and the rise of autocracies is not merely a perception, but a fact backed up by figures. According to The Economist's Democracy Index, only 45 per cent of the world's population currently live in a democracy; in the latest survey from 2025, just 25 per cent of all countries were classified as "full democracies". Germany is also seeing an increasing shift among citizens towards right-wing extremist or right-wing populist parties.​

During the expert debate, Hedwig Richter, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, and Steffen Mau, Director at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Political and Social Science in Göttingen, discussed the historical and current causes of this development, as well as potential ways forward.

Research shows that democracies rarely collapse overnight. Rather, they are gradually and systematically eroded. Courts, the media, parliaments, and academic institutions are often placed under pressure step by step. Democratic norms are repeatedly violated until a tipping point is reached, setting a country on a path toward autocracy. Only over time does the full extent of these changes become apparent.

At the Plenary Assembly, Patrick Cramer also addressed the threats facing both democracy and science, emphasising the importance of academic freedom and its role in safeguarding democratic systems. 

Technology transfer: Max Planck Startup Award of the Stifterverband

Although the core mission of the MPG is basic research, it actively promotes spin-offs from its institutes. This is achieved through various programmes as well as its technology transfer subsidiary, Max Planck Innovation, which identifies startups emerging from the institutes and provides them with advice and support along the way. The Max Planck Startup Award of the Stifterverband is another vital element in boosting technology transfer.

The €30,000 prize, which is awarded biennially at the Annual Meeting, goes this year to Ovo Labs GmbH. Founded just last year in 2025, the company aims to significantly improve success rates in assisted reproduction. The active ingredients in its EmbryoProtect 1, 2, and 3 products are designed to help women remain fertile for longer, thereby increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Outstanding early career researchers

It is round, gold, and weighs 400 grams. Anyone who receives it has achieved something truly extraordinary during their doctoral research: the Otto Hahn Medal. Awarded annually since 1978 at the Max Planck Society’s Annual General Meeting, the announcement “The Otto Hahn Medal goes to…” was heard no fewer than thirty times during this year’s Section meetings.

Ten doctoral researchers from each of the Society’s three Sections were honoured. In addition to the medal, each recipient receives prize money of 7,500 euros. The award is named after the German chemist and Nobel laureate Otto Hahn (1879–1968), who served as President of the Max Planck Society from 1948 to 1960. Since its introduction in 1978, more than 1,000 scientists have been honoured with the Otto Hahn Medal.

Max Planck in Hesse

Seven Max Planck Institutes, including the Ernst Strüngmann Institute, as well as one research unit, are located in Hesse, employing around 1,650 members of staff. Of these, roughly 700 employees hold a foreign passport (43 per cent), while women account for approximately 55 per cent of the workforce (as of 31 December 2025).

• Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main
• Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main
• Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim
• Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main
• Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg
• Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory, Frankfurt am Main
• Max Planck Research Unit for Neurogenetics, Frankfurt am Main
• Ernst Strüngmann Institute of the Max Planck Society, Frankfurt am Main​

Note: The original report dated 9 June was updated on 18 June.