Max-Planck Insftitute for Biology of Ageing

What Max-Planck Insftitute for Biology of Ageing does

The Max-Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing (MPI-AGE) is a non-profit basic research institute established in 2008 and located in Cologne, Germany, operating under the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. Its mission is to elucidate the molecular, physiological, and evolutionary mechanisms underlying the natural ageing process and to develop interventions that mitigate or prevent age-related diseases. The institute is self-described as one of the world's leading centres for ageing research.

The institute's operational footprint comprises 11 active research laboratories (Antebi, Fernandes, Frentz, Huppertz, Jachimowicz, Langer, Matić, Panier, Schaefer, Scheiblich, Sprenger) and 4 associated groups (Deelen, Larsson, Slagboom, Tarakhovsky), supported by 9 core facilities covering Bioinformatics, Comparative Biology, CRISPR Screening, FACS & Imaging, Fish Facility, Metabolomics, Phenotyping, Proteomics, and Transgenesis. Research outputs are disseminated through peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals including Nature, Nature Cell Biology, and Molecular Systems Biology. The institute hosts the Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) / IMPRS on Ageing, offering structured PhD programmes, Master Fellowships, internships, and undergraduate research opportunities.

The institute does not operate on a commercial revenue model. Funding is derived from the Max Planck Society, the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grants of 1.5M EUR, ERC Proof-of-Concept Grants), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG-funded SFB 1218 Collaborative Research Centre), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (GO-Bio Initial Funding), and private foundations such as the Marga und Walter Boll-Stiftung. It is embedded within the broader Cologne research ecosystem alongside the CECAD Excellence Cluster for Aging Research, the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, and the University of Cologne. Customer 'segments' comprise graduate students and early-career researchers, the academic research community, and the general public (via outreach events such as Open Days, Pint of Science, and the AGE ART series).

Name

Max-Planck Insftitute for Biology of Ageing

Legal name

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.

Website

https://age.mpg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Max-Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing is a publicly funded non-profit research institute in Cologne, Germany, studying the molecular, physiological, and evolutionary mechanisms of ageing. It operates 11 research laboratories and 9 core facilities, trains doctoral researchers via the Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research, and serves the scientific community and general public through publications and outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomedical Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAMAG

Health, Wellness & Healthy Aging Education (Chronic disease, mobility, nutrition)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Learning for Seniors (Third Age / Lifelong Learning Institutes)

SECONDARYBPAGAEAF

Elder Services & Aging Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Biomedical research
• Ageing biology
• Molecular biology research
• Graduate research training
• Public research institute

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Max-Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing is a publicly funded non-profit research institute that conducts basic research on the molecular, physiological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying ageing, with the goal of finding interventions to prevent or mitigate age-related diseases. It operates 11 research laboratories and 4 associated groups, supported by 9 state-of-the-art core facilities, and trains the next generation of researchers through the Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) and its Master Fellowship Programme.

Product overview

Max-Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing is a research institute (not a commercial product company) offering scientific research programs focused on understanding the natural ageing process and finding interventions for age-related diseases. The portfolio consists of 11 active research laboratories conducting molecular, physiological and evolutionary ageing research, 8 core research facilities providing technical infrastructure (Bioinformatics, Comparative Biology, CRISPR Screening, FACS & Imaging, Fish Facility, Metabolomics, Phenotyping, Proteomics, Transgenesis), the Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) offering PhD and Master programs, and public outreach programs including seminars, educational events (KinderUni), and science-art events (AGE ART).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Laboratories Scientific research divisions investigating molecular, physiological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying ageing. Includes 11 active research laboratories (Antebi, Fernandes, Frentz, Huppertz, Jachimowicz, Langer, Matić, Panier, Schaefer, Scheiblich, Sprenger) and 4 associated groups (Deelen, Larsson, Slagboom, Tarakhovsky).
• Core Facilities State-of-the-art research infrastructure offering latest techniques and methods including Bioinformatics, Comparative Biology, CRISPR Screening, FACS & Imaging, Fish Facility, Metabolomics, Phenotyping, Proteomics, and Transgenesis, available to all researchers at the institute.
• Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) Graduate school program providing international and inspiring research environment through the International Max Planck Research School on Ageing (IMPRS on Ageing), featuring excellent supervision, structured PhD program, and modern facilities for doctoral candidates in ageing biology.
• Master Fellowship Programme Fellowship program by the Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research for master's students, with deadline July 15, 2026, providing funded research opportunities in ageing biology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Published in high-impact journals including Nature, Nature Cell Biology, Nature Ageing, Nature Aging, Molecular Systems Biology
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SFB 1218 - Collaborative Research Centre on Mitochondrial RegulationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2016Collaborative research consortium including University of Cologne, CECAD Excellence Cluster, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, and University of Bonn investigating how mitochondria influence cellular activity, differentiation and survival. Funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) since July 2016, entering second phase in July 2020 through 2024.
• CECAD Excellence Cluster for Aging ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe institute operates within the broader CECAD ecosystem at the University of Cologne, one of Germany's leading ageing research clusters. Joint activities include Open Days, graduate programmes, and collaborative research.
• Max Planck Institute for Metabolism ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring Max Planck institute with which joint public events are organized, including the annual Open Day for research outreach.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Karolinska Institutet: Swedish medical university with major aging research programs (e.g., NVS, Medical Biochemistry). Comparable in biomedical research breadth, grant prestige, and translational mission though much broader than aging focus alone.
• Scripps Research: Non-profit biomedical research organization with strengths in chemistry, biology, and translational science. Comparable peer given high-impact publication profile and public/private funding model.
• The Francis Crick Institute: UK biomedical discovery institute funded by major public research funders. Comparable as a large-scale public-research model with core facilities and high-impact publications, though broader than aging alone.
• Salk Institute for Biological Studies: Non-profit biological research institute with active programs in cellular ageing and genomics. Comparable given similar institutional structure and core-facility-driven research model.
• Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST): Japanese graduate university and research institute with active programs in biological ageing and regenerative science. Comparable given interdisciplinary biomedical research model and public funding base.
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine: US biomedical research institution with longstanding strength in aging biology and longevity research via its Einstein Institute for Aging Research. Comparable peer given similar research focus and academic profile.

Regional players

• Babraham Institute: UK biological research institute with dedicated epigenetics and aging biology programs. Comparable given research focus overlap and similar institute scale, though UK-based and not direct competitor.
• Helmholtz Munich: German Helmholtz Association research center with strengths in metabolic and aging-related disease research. Comparable given German public-funding context, scale, and biomedical focus, but geographically broader than aging alone.

Direct peers

• Buck Institute for Research on Aging: Non-profit, independent research institute solely focused on the biology of aging and age-related disease. Most comparable structural and mission-level peer to MPI for Biology of Ageing.
• Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI): German non-profit Leibniz Association research institute dedicated to biomedical aging research. Direct comparable peer given similar geographic context, public funding model, and exclusive focus on ageing biology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCHzXdAQo0FCp1y_jVcXnQw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/max-planck-institute-for-biology-of-ageing
• Xx.com/MPIAGE
• Facebookfacebook.com/167060300027636

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Max-Planck Insftitute for Biology of Ageing