Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence

What Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence does

The Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (MPI-BI) is a publicly funded non-profit research institute, legally established in 2023 through the merger of the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology. It is an operational unit of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. (MPG), which receives the majority of its funding from the German federal and state governments. The institute conducts basic research on the neural, behavioral, sensory, and evolutionary basis of biological intelligence across animal species, organized primarily around the Department of Circuits – Synapses – Plasticity (Bonhoeffer), the Department of Ornithology (Kempenaers), and the Department of Evolution of Sensory and Physiological Systems (Baldwin), supported by central facilities including an Imaging Facility, an EM-Histo-Lab, and a Transgenic Core Facility. Its "customers" are the global academic and scientific community; outputs are disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, open-access channels, conferences, and public outreach programs such as MaxLab.

The institute operates across two main German campuses—Planegg-Martinsried (headquarters, successor to MPIN) and Seewiesen (ornithology)—and, since June 2024, runs the Max Planck – University of Cape Town Centre for Behaviour and Coevolution, the first Max Planck Centre on the African continent. Its technology stack comprises 2-photon calcium imaging, patch-clamp electrophysiology, optogenetics, miniature field transmitters for animal tracking, comparative genomics, molecular and cell-culture techniques, and AI-assisted behavioral analysis (notably for fruit fly motion vision and zebrafish larval hunting behavior). There is no commercial product portfolio, pricing model, or revenue stream from sales; the institute functions exclusively as a publicly funded research organization, with revenue figures not publicly disclosed at the institute level.

Name

Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence

Legal name

Max-Planck-Institut für biologische Intelligenz

Website

https://bi.mpg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MPI-BI is a publicly funded German research institute studying the neural, behavioral, sensory, and evolutionary basis of biological intelligence across animal species, serving the global academic community with no commercial product sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biological Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Biological intelligence research
• Neuroscience research services
• Ornithology research programs
• Behavioral ecology studies
• Comparative genomics research

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The institute is funded by the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. (MPG), which receives government funding from German federal and state governments for basic research in the public interest.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MPI-BI conducts fundamental basic research on biological intelligence — neural circuits, behavior, sensory systems, and evolutionary biology — across animal species, delivered through research departments (Ornithology; Circuits-Synapses-Plasticity; Evolution of Sensory and Physiological Systems), shared core research facilities (Imaging Facility, EM-Histo-Lab, Transgenic Core Facility), and doctoral/educational training programs. The institute disseminates findings via peer-reviewed publications, academic seminars, and public outreach, and operates joint international research centres such as the MPUCT Centre for Behaviour and Coevolution in Cape Town.

Product overview

The Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (MPI-BI) is a research institution formed in 2023 through the merger of the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology. The institute operates as a unified research organization without a commercial product portfolio. Its offerings include research facilities (Imaging Facility, EM-Histo-Lab, Transgenic Core Facility), two primary research departments (Behavioral Neurobiology and Ornithology), educational programs (PhD programs, vocational training), and international collaborations. The institute conducts fundamental biological intelligence research rather than developing commercial products or software services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Max Planck – University of Cape Town Centre for Behaviour and Coevolution: Joint research centre focused on behaviour and coevolution studies, particularly brood-parasitic birds and their hosts, as well as cooperative relationships between birds and humans. First Max Planck Centre on the African continent.

Products and services

• Imaging Facility Central microscopy facility offering advanced confocal, two-photon, and electron microscopy services for the institute's neuroscience and biology research programs.
• EM-Histo-Lab Electron microscopy and histology laboratory providing tissue processing, sectioning, and microscopy services for neurobiology research.
• Transgenic Core Facility Core facility generating genetically modified animal models, including zebrafish and mouse models, for institute research.
• Department of Circuits - Synapses - Plasticity (Bonhoeffer) Research department investigating the neurobiology of behavior, studying neural circuits, synaptic plasticity, and the cellular basis of learning and memory using mouse models.
• Department of Ornithology Research department focused on avian biology, studying bird behavior, evolutionary biology, sensory systems, and ecological interactions of birds across various species.
• Department of Evolution of Sensory and Physiological Systems (Baldwin) Research group studying the evolution of taste sensing and digestive physiology across vertebrates, combining molecular techniques with behavioral studies and comparative genomics.
• PhD Programs Structured doctoral training programs offering PhD positions in biological intelligence, neuroscience, and behavioral ecology research areas.
• Max Planck - University of Cape Town Centre for Behaviour and Coevolution International joint research centre between MPI-BI and the University of Cape Town investigating species interactions, coevolution, behavior, and biodiversity in Africa, with focus on brood-parasitic birds, hosts, and human-wildlife cooperative relationships.
• MaxLab (Schüler- und Besucherlabor) Hands-on laboratory program for school pupils and teachers providing interactive science education experiences.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• University of Cape Town - FitzPatrick Institute of African OrnithologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Joint establishment of the Max Planck - University of Cape Town Centre for Behaviour and Coevolution, the first Max Planck Centre on the African continent. The centre investigates species interactions, behavior, learning, communication, evolution, and biodiversity in Africa, with focus on coevolution between brood-parasitic birds and hosts, and cooperative relationships between birds and humans.
• Prof. Dr. Claire SpottiswoodecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Director of the MPUCT Centre representing the University of Cape Town, leads African Cuckoos and African Honeyguides research projects.
• Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institute contributing to the Centre's research through the Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Allen Institute for Brain Science: Non-profit neuroscience research organization producing large-scale, open-access atlases of brain cell types and activity. Highly comparable to MPI-BI's Department of Circuits-Synapses-Plasticity in basic neuroscience mission, imaging-driven methodology, and non-commercial funding model.
• Janelia Research Campus (HHMI): HHMI's basic-research campus focused on neuroscience imaging, optogenetics, and computational neuroscience. Comparable in scope to MPI-BI's neurobiology programs, with overlapping techniques (2-photon imaging, behavior quantification) and a similar talent-driven, grant-funded model.
• Salk Institute for Biological Studies: Independent non-profit research institute studying neuroscience, genetics, and plant biology. Similar in mission, governance as a non-profit, and breadth of basic biological research combining model organisms and neural-circuit studies.
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: World-leading ornithology research and conservation institution at Cornell University. Directly comparable to MPI-BI's Department of Ornithology in scope (avian behavior, ecology, evolution) and combination of field studies with quantitative methods.
• Francis Crick Institute: Large UK biomedical discovery research institute operating across neuroscience, genetics, and structural biology. Comparable in scale, multi-disciplinary basic-research model, and publicly funded non-profit governance.
• Champalimaud Foundation (Champalimaud Research): Portuguese non-profit biomedical research program focused on neuroscience and cancer. Comparable in combining systems and circuits neuroscience with behavior and in operating as a non-commercial, donation-funded research institute.

Broad incumbents

• Max Planck Institute for Brain Research: Sister Max Planck Institute focused on brain development, function, and cognition across species. Overlapping neuroscience mission and shared funding/governance structure with MPI-BI, making it the closest MPG-network comparable for neurobiology output.
• MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology: UK Medical Research Council basic-research institute covering molecular and cell biology underpinning neural function. Comparable in mission of fundamental discovery in life sciences and in producing methodology advances that ripple through biotech.
• RIKEN Center for Brain Science: Japanese national institute conducting neuroscience research from molecules to cognition. Comparable in scale, public funding model, and breadth of basic neuroscience including circuits and behavior.
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Large US non-profit biomedical research organization supporting investigator-led labs across neuroscience and related fields. Comparable as a non-commercial research funder/institution with similar talent-driven model for biological intelligence research.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mpiforbi
• Facebookfacebook.com/MPIforBI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mpi-for-biologicalintelligence
• Instagraminstagram.com/mpiforbi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence