Max Planck Institute for Physics
The Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP) is a non-profit fundamental physics research institute in Garching, Germany, operating under the Max Planck Society. It conducts experimental and theoretical research in particle physics, dark matter, neutrino physics, astroparticle physics, and cosmology through major international collaborations including ATLAS at CERN and Belle II at KEK.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1917
- HeadquartersMunich, Germany
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Max Planck Institute for Physics does
The Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP), also known as the Werner-Heisenberg-Institut, is a non-profit fundamental physics research institute founded in 1917 in Berlin under Albert Einstein, reestablished in Göttingen under Werner Heisenberg in 1946, and headquartered at the Garching Research Center near Munich since 1958 (relocated to a new research building in November 2023). It operates as an institute of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V., a German nonprofit association, with funding drawn from federal and state government research grants and MPG institutional support rather than commercial revenue. MPP conducts both experimental and theoretical research across particle physics, astroparticle physics, and cosmology, organized into programs covering dark matter and neutrino physics (COSINUS, CRESST, LEGEND, MADMAX, RADES), collider physics (ATLAS at CERN's LHC, Belle II at KEK's SuperKEKB, NA62), gamma-ray astronomy (MAGIC and CTA), novel accelerator development (AWAKE), and theoretical physics (quantum field theory, string theory, particle phenomenology, computational techniques). The institute also operates the International Max Planck Research School for Elementary Particle Physics (IMPRS EPP) jointly with TUM and LMU for doctoral training, plus a Data Preservation service maintaining legacy datasets such as JADE.
MPP's core technical differentiators include proprietary DEPFET semiconductor detector technology developed at the joint Max Planck Semiconductor Laboratory, which underpins the world's thinnest operating silicon pixel detector (75-micrometer active layer) deployed as the Belle II Pixel Vertex Detector, and a neural-network trigger system providing superior background rejection for high-rate particle physics data. Its customer base is the international scientific community rather than commercial buyers; the institute serves this constituency through participation in flagship collaborations (ATLAS, Belle II, LEGEND, MAGIC/CTA, AWAKE, NA62), publication of peer-reviewed research, public outreach events such as Café & Kosmos and the Open House Day, and training of doctoral researchers. There are no disclosed pricing models, commercial products, or external shareholders.
Max Planck Institute for Physics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Max Planck Institute for Physics
- Legal name
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
- Website
- https://mpp.mpg.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1917
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP) is a non-profit fundamental physics research institute in Garching, Germany, operating under the Max Planck Society. It conducts experimental and theoretical research in particle physics, dark matter, neutrino physics, astroparticle physics, and cosmology through major international collaborations including ATLAS at CERN and Belle II at KEK.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Max Planck Institute for Physics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Particle Physics Research
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), 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
- Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ)
Keywords
Where Max Planck Institute for Physics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Munich
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Max Planck Institute for Physics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Marketing channels5 records
Max Planck Institute for Physics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP) conducts fundamental research in particle and astroparticle physics through a portfolio of experimental and theoretical programs. It participates in major international collaborations including ATLAS at CERN's LHC, Belle II at SuperKEKB in Japan, MAGIC/CTA gamma-ray telescopes, and dark matter experiments (CRESST, COSINUS, MADMAX, LEGEND, RADES), while also training doctoral physicists through the IMPRS EPP program.
Product overview
Max Planck Institute for Physics is a fundamental physics research institute, not a commercial product company. The institute operates as a unified research platform conducting multi-disciplinary physics research through distinct experimental and theoretical programs. These include dark matter and neutrino experiments (COSINUS, CRESST, LEGEND, MADMAX, RADES), collider physics contributions (ATLAS at LHC, Belle II with its Pixel Vertex Detector), plasma wakefield acceleration (AWAKE), gamma-ray astronomy (MAGIC, CTA telescopes), and theoretical physics (quantum field theory, string theory, particle phenomenology). The institute also hosts the IMPRS EPP doctoral training program and maintains data preservation services for legacy experiments. Research is conducted primarily through international collaborations, with major contributions to experiments in Japan (Belle II/SuperKEKB), Switzerland (ATLAS/LHC at CERN), and the MAGIC telescopes on La Palma.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dark Matter and Neutrino Physics Research Program
- Belle II Pixel Vertex Detector (PXD)
- ATLAS Experiment Contributions
- AWAKE Plasma Wakefield Acceleration Program
- MAGIC and CTA Gamma-Ray Telescope Contributions
- NA62 Experiment Contributions
- Theoretical Physics Research Program
- International Max Planck Research School for Elementary Particle Physics (IMPRS EPP) Structured doctoral training program jointly offered with TUM and LMU, providing PhD training in experimental and theoretical particle physics with international lecturers and research rotations.
- Data Preservation and Legacy Data Research
Companies that use Max Planck Institute for Physics
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Max Planck Institute for Physics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Max Planck Institute for Physics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KEK (Japan)coreBelle II experiment collaboration at SuperKEKB accelerator in Japan. MPP leads development of Pixel Vertex Detector with DESY and German universities. Belle II searches for physics beyond Standard Model through B-meson decays.
- DESYcoreJoint development of Pixel Vertex Detector (PXD) for Belle II experiment. DESY conducted critical functional tests and optimization of detector parameters before installation at SuperKEKB.
- Max Planck Semiconductor LaboratorycoreDeveloped DEPFET technology for radiation detection used in Belle II Pixel Vertex Detector. The semiconductor laboratory is a central institution of the Max Planck Society.
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)coreGerman university partner in Belle II collaboration, contributing to detector development and physics analysis. Thomas Kuhr serves as spokesperson of Belle II Germany.
- Technical University of Munich (TUM)coreUniversity partner contributing to Belle II experiment including Pixel Vertex Detector construction and physics research.
- University of BonnminorGerman university partner contributing to Pixel Vertex Detector construction for Belle II experiment.
- CERNcoreMPP participates in ATLAS experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider, contributing to particle collision research and Higgs boson studies.
- Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial PhysicscoreJoint research identifying the Quipu superstructure, the largest reliably measured cosmic structure spanning 1.4 billion light-years with 68 galaxy clusters.
- International Max Planck Research School for Elementary Particle Physics (IMPRS EPP)coreJoint doctoral program with multiple German universities providing PhD training in particle physics. Giulia Zanderighi serves as spokesperson.
- MAGIC and CTA Telescopes CollaborationcoreCollaboration on gamma-ray telescopes including MAGIC on La Palma and development of CTA (Cherenkov Telescope Array) for astroparticle physics research.
- LEGEND CollaborationcoreInternational collaboration investigating Majorana nature of neutrinos through germanium detector experiments.
- AWAKE CollaborationcoreAdvanced Wakefield Experiment studying plasma wakefield acceleration as novel particle acceleration technique.
- NA62 CollaborationcoreExperiment at CERN searching for rare kaon decays and exotic particles to test Standard Model predictions.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Max Planck Institute for Physics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CERN: European particle physics laboratory hosting the LHC/ATLAS where MPP holds collaboration membership. Direct counterpart in fundamental physics research with overlapping experimental programs and shared international scientific community.
- Brookhaven National Laboratory: U.S. national laboratory with extensive particle and nuclear physics programs. Comparable scale and mission focus on fundamental physics, with overlapping research communities in relativistic heavy ion and neutrino physics.
- Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab): U.S. national particle physics laboratory comparable to MPP in mission and scope, with major programs in neutrinos, muons, and dark matter. Provides a benchmark for international particle physics funding scale and research direction.
- INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare): Italian national institute coordinating particle and nuclear physics research across multiple universities and laboratories. Directly comparable peer in mission, funding model, and international collaboration footprint.
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory: U.S. DOE national laboratory operating particle accelerators and photon science facilities. Closely comparable in combining experimental detector development with theoretical physics, and historically a Belle/BaBar peer.
Direct peers
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY): German national accelerator laboratory and MPP's primary domestic peer, jointly developing the Belle II Pixel Vertex Detector and co-operating the Semiconductor Laboratory. Same funding environment, similar research portfolio in particle and astroparticle physics.
- Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP): U.S. theoretical physics institute running workshops and long-term visitor programs. Comparable in theoretical physics focus areas (string theory, cosmology, particle physics) overlapping with MPP's Theory departments.
- Institute for Advanced Study (IAS): U.S. independent research institute concentrating on theoretical physics and mathematics. Directly comparable as a non-university, publicly-funded institute where MPP Director Johannes Henn holds a part-time position; similar talent model.
- KEK (High Energy Accelerator Research Organization): Japanese inter-university research organization hosting SuperKEKB/Belle II where MPP co-developed and operates the Pixel Vertex Detector. Direct peer as host institution for one of MPP's flagship experiments.
- Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics: Canadian independent theoretical physics research institute. Directly comparable in scale and mission with MPP's Theory department (quantum field theory, string theory, particle phenomenology), including similar postdoctoral and visitor programs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Max Planck Institute for Physics social profiles
Digital presenceMax Planck Institute for Physics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
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Max Planck Institute for Physics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Max Planck Institute for Physics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Max Planck Institute for Physics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Max Planck Institute for Physics
What does Max Planck Institute for Physics do?
The Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP) conducts fundamental research in particle and astroparticle physics through a portfolio of experimental and theoretical programs. It participates in major international collaborations including ATLAS at CERN's LHC, Belle II at SuperKEKB in Japan, MAGIC/CTA gamma-ray telescopes, and dark matter experiments (CRESST, COSINUS, MADMAX, LEGEND, RADES), while also training doctoral physicists through the IMPRS EPP program.
Is Max Planck Institute for Physics a public or private company?
Max Planck Institute for Physics is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Max Planck Institute for Physics founded?
Max Planck Institute for Physics was founded in 1917. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Max Planck Institute for Physics based?
Max Planck Institute for Physics is headquartered in Munich, Germany, in the Europe region.
Who are Max Planck Institute for Physics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CERN, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare) and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Direct peers are Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP), Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), KEK (High Energy Accelerator Research Organization) and Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Does Max Planck Institute for Physics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Max Planck Institute for Physics.
What industry is Max Planck Institute for Physics in?
Max Planck Institute for Physics's product category is Particle Physics Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAJ, Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities. Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.