Focus on Europe

Focus on Europe

A long-standing Max Planck Society focal point

Nowhere does the Max Planck Society maintain such strong networks as in Europe: over a third of the more than 9000 international guest and early career researchers are from EU countries. In addition to long-term bilateral exchange relationships, the Max Planck Society takes part in collaborative EU projects and is committed to a dynamic, balanced development of the European Research Area oriented towards excellence.

Bilateral collaborations and networks

The International Relations Unit in the Administrative Headquarters is responsible for bilateral collaboration with EU partners. These networks are of outstanding importance in terms of global competition: the Max Planck Society and its partners not only contribute towards the scientific performance of the continent; their own development also benefits from the EU’s infrastructure and networking opportunities. Close scientific relationships, some of which have been built up over several decades, have been established with excellent research facilities, especially in the United Kingdom, France, and Switzerland. [More]

Scientific excellence in Central and Eastern Europe

The Max Planck Society developed the Dioscuri Programme to address the performance gap between Western and Eastern Europe. This is a competitive funding programme, financed by the German Federal Government and the governments of the partner countries, whose purpose is to provide support to enable outstanding researchers to establish internationally competitive research groups. The initial focus is on Polish universities and scientific institutes. [More]

Staff Unit – Brussels Office

The task of the Brussels Office is to observe, analyse and evaluate EU research policy developments and to help shape them in the interests of the Max Planck Society and its Institutes. In doing so, this staff unit helps to ensure that EU research programmes reflect the interests of the various Max Planck Institutes. To be able to lobby in the interest of the Max Planck Society, the Brussels Office also maintains strategic relations with the relevant EU institutions, especially with the EU Parliament and the EU Commission, but also with the EU Council (BMBF), research funding associations (Science Europe), and other stakeholders. [More]

News

vfl. Amelie Heuer-Jungemann, Benjamin Vernot,, Tristan Wagner and Matthias Fischer

Four Max Planck projects secure the ERC Consolidator Grants 2023 more

Peter Gruss was President of the Max Planck Society from 2002 to 2014.

The Japanese government awards the former Max-Planck and OIST President the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, one of Japan's highest national honours, in recognition of his contributions to Japanese science more

This year's ERC Synergy Grantees of the Max Planck Society

The scientists and their research teams receive around 40 million euros in funding for their work more

A chapter of German-Jewish reconciliation after the Holocaust

The Max Planck Society's scientific relations with Israel are a chapter of contemporary German history more

The three Dioscuri leaders from the left: Helena Reichlova, Barbora Špačková and Peter Fabian. © Rene Volfik - FZU, Aykut Argun, Markéta Křížová

Two physicists and a developmental biologist will head the three new Dioscuri Centres in the Czech Republic. more

The pioneer of paleogenetics, Svante Pääbo from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology sitting on a chair on a stage, wearing a grey suit and glasses,facing towards a female moderator. He was answering questions during the ceremonial event commemorating the 30-year anniversary of the Max Planck Society in Leipzig and Dresden.

On September 4, 2023, Minister-President Michael Kretschmer and Max Planck President Patrick Cramer hosted a ceremonial event at the Kulturpalast in Dresden commemorating the 30-year success story of the Max Planck Society in Leipzig and Dresden.  more

The image shows the word "Statement" in a light yellowish-green colour on a bottle green background with small yellow dots.

The Max Planck Institute for International, European, and Regulatory Procedural Law will be transferred to the University of Luxembourg early next year more

A quotation reading: "We share concerns of our colleagues and friends in Israel that the current judicial reform plans endanger academic freedom. "

In a joint statement, several German science organisations, have expressed their concern for academic freedom in Israel if the proposed judicial reforms proceed more

Two men wearing jackets

A new Max Planck Center in Rostock and Helsinki more

Harnack Medal for Daniel Zajfman

The Max Planck Society honours Daniel Zajfman with the Harnack Medal in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the advancement of science and German-Israeli cooperation
  more

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