Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience

What Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience does

Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) research institute headquartered in Jupiter, Florida, and the only North American member of Germany's Max Planck Society (86+ institutes worldwide). Founded in 2012, MPFI employs 51-100 staff and conducts fundamental neuroscience research aimed at understanding how the brain develops and functions, from molecular signaling to circuit-level behavior. Its research serves the global scientific community through open-science publication, training programs, and community outreach.

MPFI's core technology platform is Neuroplex, a proprietary system that simultaneously measures neural activity across up to nine unique cell types in behaving animals, significantly accelerating circuit-level data collection. The institute has also developed in-house genetically encoded biosensors for opioid receptor signaling and Rab protein activity, and operates four scientific core facilities (Animal Resource Center, Imaging Center, Mechanical Workshop, Molecular and Virology Core) that provide shared research infrastructure. Strategic partnerships with ZEISS, Thorlabs, and MetaCell extend its imaging and data science capabilities, while joint programs with Florida Atlantic University (NeuroInnovate Center) and international collaborators (Allen Institute, Stanford, USC, UC Davis, Nencki Institute, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies) underpin its research output.

MPFI does not sell commercial products. Its revenue model is grant- and donation-driven: primary funding flows from federal sources including the NIH (notably an $11M five-year BRAIN Initiative cooperative agreement led by Dr. Lin Tian), the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Max Planck Society, supplemented by philanthropic donations and corporate partnerships. Output is disseminated through high-impact journals (Nature, Science, Neuron, Nature Neuroscience), the annual Sunposium conference, training programs spanning high school to postdoctoral levels, and community engagement events (Brain Exploration Day, Science Meets Music, Ask Max classroom programs).

Name

Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience

Legal name

Max Planck Florida Corporation

Website

https://mpfi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience is a Jupiter, Florida-based, non-profit research institute and the only North American member of Germany's Max Planck Society, conducting fundamental neuroscience research funded by NIH grants, the Max Planck Society, and philanthropy, and serving the global scientific community through open-access publications and training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuroscience Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

Keywords

• Neuroscience research
• Brain imaging technology
• Genetically encoded biosensors
• Postdoctoral training programs
• Scientific core facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Jupiter

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Grants: Primary funding comes from government grants (National Institutes of Health, BRAIN Initiative), private foundations (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation), and the Max Planck Society. Research results are published and shared openly with the scientific community.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: The institute accepts charitable donations to support groundbreaking research into the fundamentals of brain function. Corporate partnerships and individual giving programs are available.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience is a non-profit research institute that conducts fundamental neuroscience research on how the brain develops and functions, from individual molecules to complex synaptic networks. It operates proprietary research platforms such as the Neuroplex neural recording system, four scientific core facilities, novel genetically encoded biosensors, and advanced imaging technologies. The institute also delivers neuroscience training programs across all education levels and community science outreach events.

Product overview

The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) is a fundamental neuroscience research institute — not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of research technology platforms, shared scientific core facilities, education and training programs, and community science outreach. The central technology platform is Neuroplex, which captures multi-cell-type neural activity in behaving animals. Supporting infrastructure includes four scientific core facilities (Animal Resource Center, Imaging Center, Mechanical Workshop, Molecular and Virology Core). Education offerings span Ask Max classroom programs, high school internships, undergraduate and postbac programs, the IMPRS Ph.D. program, a joint M.D./Ph.D. program with FAU, postdoctoral fellowships, and an Advanced Neuroimaging Course. Public engagement is delivered through the Ask Max mobile van, the Max Brain Challenge competition, Brain Exploration Day, Science Meets Music lectures, and the Sunposium conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Neuroplex Neuroplex is MPFI's proprietary neural recording platform that allows scientists to measure and link neural activity of up to nine unique cell types simultaneously in behaving animals, significantly accelerating data collection for circuit-level neuroscience research.
• Scientific Core Facilities MPFI operates four scientific core facilities — the Animal Resource Center, Imaging Center, Mechanical Workshop, and Molecular and Virology Core — providing researchers with in-house access to advanced technology and specialized expertise.
• Training Programs MPFI offers a comprehensive suite of training programs spanning all education levels, including Ask Max classroom programs, high school internships, undergraduate research, postbaccalaureate programs, the IMPRS Ph.D. program, an M.D./Ph.D. program in partnership with FAU, postdoctoral fellowships, and an Advanced Neuroimaging Course.
• Community Outreach Programs MPFI's outreach programs include the Ask Max mobile science van bringing microscopes and STEM lessons to classrooms, the Max Brain Challenge neuroscience competition for teens, Brain Exploration Day, Science Meets Music lectures, and the Sunposium scientific conference.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95 students trained through high school internship program since 2011
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Florida Atlantic UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2025FAU and MPFI collaborate on the NeuroInnovate Center, sharing the Jupiter campus. They jointly offer M.D./Ph.D. programs, high school capstone programs, and research collaborations. FAU's NeuroInnovate Center integrates with MPFI's research capabilities.
• ThorlabscoreTechnology or Integration · 26 March 2025MPFI partnered with Thorlabs to pioneer transformative imaging technology. This partnership focuses on developing advanced brain imaging technologies.
• ZEISScoreTechnology or Integration · 22 November 2024ZEISS and MPFI renewed their partnership to drive innovation in advanced brain imaging technologies. The partnership provides access to cutting-edge microscopy equipment.
• MetaCellmajorTechnology or Integration · 19 August 2024MPFI partnered with MetaCell to enhance data science capabilities. The collaboration delivers on-demand data science services for analyzing complex neuroscience data.
• Nencki InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research with the Nencki Institute on synaptic plasticity mechanisms, specifically the BDNF and MMP-9 protein interaction study published in Science Advances.
• Weill Cornell MedicinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research with Weill Cornell Medicine on cellular railroad switches (Rab4 and Rab10) that direct supplies for memory formation.
• Allen InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Lin Tian leads a national research collaboration including Allen Institute, Stanford University, USC, and UC Davis, funded by a $11 million NIH BRAIN Initiative grant.
• Stanford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the $11 million national research collaboration led by Dr. Lin Tian to develop novel technologies for understanding brain cell types and neurotransmitter interactions.
• University of Southern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the $11 million national research collaboration led by Dr. Lin Tian for brain research technology development.
• University of California DaviscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Lin Tian maintains adjunct position at UC Davis; part of the $11 million national research collaboration for brain research.
• Frankfurt Institute for Advanced StudiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies on visual circuit development research published in Neuron and Nature Neuroscience.
• Goethe University FrankfurtmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution on visual perception and brain circuit development research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MPFNeuro
• YouTubeyoutube.com/mpfneuro
• Facebookfacebook.com/Max.Planck.Florida.Institute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/max-planck-florida-institute-for-neuroscience
• Instagraminstagram.com/mpfneuro
• TikToktiktok.com/@mpfneuro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience