Max Planck Institute of Biophysics

What Max Planck Institute of Biophysics does

The Max Planck Institute of Biophysics is a non-profit research institute headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, operating as part of the Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.). It studies the structure and function of proteins that regulate vital cellular processes, including waste disposal, energy metabolism, and immune response. The institute's work centers on advanced methodologies — cryo-electron microscopy, cryo-electron tomography, mass spectrometry proteomics, and computational biology/molecular dynamics — and is structured around 14 research groups led by principal investigators.

Its core technical capability combines these modalities under a single roof, enabling in-situ structural studies of protein complexes (e.g., TOM complex for mitochondrial protein import, HIV-1 capsid nuclear entry). The institute also develops proprietary software tools such as cryoTIGER (deep-learning tilt interpolation) and TomoBEAR (subtomogram averaging pipeline), and operates shared scientific facilities including electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, and imaging services. It maintains 20 high-end scientific instruments and produces approximately 75 peer-reviewed publications per year across journals such as Nature, Science, Cell, and PNAS.

The business model is non-commercial. Funding is derived primarily from German federal and state government appropriations channeled through the Max Planck Society, supplemented by competitive grants from national bodies (DFG, BMBF) and international programs (ERC, EU Horizon). A minor revenue stream comes from technology licensing — for example, a 2024 licensing agreement with Nanoscope Therapeutics covering optogenetic technology for vision restoration. The institute also operates the IMPRS on Cellular Biophysics doctoral training program jointly with Goethe University Frankfurt, supporting a continuous talent pipeline of PhD researchers and postdoctoral scientists.

Name

Max Planck Institute of Biophysics

Legal name

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

Website

https://biophys.mpg.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Max Planck Institute of Biophysics is a non-profit research institute in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, that studies protein structure and function using cryo-EM, mass spectrometry, and computational biology. It serves the global academic research community, trains doctoral researchers, and licenses selected technologies to commercial partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biophysics Research

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

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry Services (HLAGANAB), Material Characterization & Spectroscopy (NMR/FTIR/MS) (HLAGADAK)

Keywords

• Structural biology research
• Biophysics research institute
• Protein structure analysis
• Cryo-electron microscopy
• Proteomics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt am Main

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

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: Core funding from the Max Planck Society, which is funded by the German federal and state governments. This covers operational costs, salaries, and infrastructure maintenance.
2. Research Grants and Sponsored Projects: Competitive grants from national (DFG, BMBF) and international funding bodies (EU Horizon programs, ERC grants) supporting specific research projects
3. Technology Licensing: Licensing of developed technologies and intellectual property to commercial entities for therapeutic and diagnostic applications

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Max Planck Institute of Biophysics is a non-profit research institute that studies the structure and function of proteins regulating vital cellular processes. It operates scientific facilities in electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, and imaging, and offers access to advanced research infrastructure including cryo-electron tomography. It develops specialized software tools (cryoTIGER, TomoBEAR) for cryo-ET data processing and delivers structured doctoral training through the IMPRS on Cellular Biophysics program.

Product overview

The Max Planck Institute of Biophysics is a fundamental research institution that does not offer commercial products or services. Instead, it provides scientific research services and facilities to the scientific community, including access to advanced electron microscopy (cryo-EM, cryo-ET), mass spectrometry proteomics, and imaging technologies. The institute develops specialized software tools (cryoTIGER, TomoBEAR) for cryo-electron tomography data processing and employs molecular dynamics simulations using GROMACS for computational biology research. Educational programs including the IMPRS on Cellular Biophysics doctoral training program complement the research offerings. The research portfolio spans multiple specialized groups focused on molecular and structural biology, membrane biology, theoretical biophysics, and cellular quality control mechanisms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electron Microscopy Services Advanced electron microscopy facilities providing high-resolution imaging capabilities for structural biology research, including cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging techniques, made available to researchers across the scientific community.
• Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Services Proteomics facility offering mass spectrometry analysis for protein identification, quantification, and characterization, including identification of posttranslational modifications.
• Imaging Services Advanced cellular and molecular imaging technologies for life sciences research, operated in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research.
• Technical Engineering & Prototyping Technical support services for custom instrumentation development, prototyping, and specialized equipment fabrication to meet specialized research needs.
• Library Services Scientific literature and research resources access for institute researchers and staff.
• cryoTIGER Software Deep-learning based tilt interpolation generator for enhanced reconstruction in cryo-electron tomography, developed by institute researchers.
• TomoBEAR Software Streamlined structure determination tool by cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging, developed by institute researchers.
• IMPRS on Cellular Biophysics Doctoral Program International Max Planck Research School providing structured doctoral training in cellular biophysics, offered jointly with Goethe University Frankfurt and other partner institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75 publications in 2024 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Network for Early Career Researchers on Cell DeathminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026European scientific network dedicated to advancing research on cell death and its links to diseases including chronic inflammation, metabolic disorders, and neurodegeneration. The network brings together early-career researchers from eight European countries.
• Nanoscope TherapeuticscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 30 September 2024Licensing agreement for optogenetic technology developed at the institute. The technology offers hope for restoration of vision in patients with genetically determined visual impairments.
• Frankfurt AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2024Science network comprising 15+ research institutions in the Frankfurt/Rhein-Main region, working together to strengthen the science and research location. The Max Planck Institute of Biophysics is a founding member of this alliance.
• University of HeidelbergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership on HIV capsid nuclear entry mechanisms. Researchers from the institute and Heidelberg University jointly discovered how HIV-1 capsids traverse the nuclear pore complex.
• IMPRS on Cellular BiophysicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Max Planck Research School providing structured PhD training in cellular biophysics. Joint program with Goethe University Frankfurt and other partner institutions.
• Dioscuri Centre for Modelling of Posttranslational ModificationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center focused on computational modelling of posttranslational modifications, established as a European center of excellence in mathematical and computational biology.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL): Intergovernmental research organization in structural biology, cryo-EM, and computational biology with sites across Europe. Directly comparable as a publicly funded structural biology powerhouse with similar cryo-EM instrumentation, international collaboration model, and life sciences focus.
• Francis Crick Institute: UK biomedical research institute with ~1,500 scientists focused on cancer, neurodegeneration, and structural biology. Comparable as a publicly funded, multi-disciplinary research institute with strong cryo-EM infrastructure and similar talent density, though larger in scale than MPI Biophysics.
• Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (MPI-BPC): Sister Max Planck Institute in Göttingen with overlapping structural biology, biophysics, and cryo-EM capabilities. Directly comparable within the same Max Planck network with similar funding, governance, and methodological focus on molecular structure determination.
• MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB): UK-based government-funded research institute with 12+ Nobel laureates focused on structural biology, cryo-EM, and molecular biology. Directly comparable as the world's premier structural biology research institute with similar funding model, talent profile, and methodological emphasis on cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography.
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute / Janelia Research Campus: US non-profit research campus focused on developing imaging technologies and computational tools for biology. Comparable as a mission-driven research organization pushing methodological boundaries in microscopy and imaging, similar to MPI Biophysics' cryo-EM innovation focus.
• Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG): Sister Max Planck Institute in Dresden focused on molecular cell biology and biophysics. Directly comparable as part of the same Max Planck Society network with similar research model, funding structure, and life sciences focus, though with stronger cell biology emphasis versus MPI Biophysics' structural biology focus.
• Institut Pasteur: French non-profit research institute with 10+ Nobel laureates focused on microbiology, immunology, and structural biology. Comparable as a government-funded research foundation with similar talent density, international collaborations, and translational science output.

Broad incumbents

• Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research: German government-funded research center within the Helmholtz Association, focused on infection research. Comparable as part of Germany's larger publicly funded research infrastructure with similar funding mechanisms (federal/state) and structural biology capabilities, though broader in scope.
• Rockefeller University: US private graduate university with 26+ Nobel laureates focused on biomedical research including structural biology. Comparable as a top-tier research institution with similar talent profile, though operating under a private university model rather than public research institute model.

Regional players

• Weizmann Institute of Science: Israeli research institution with strong structural biology and chemical sciences programs, including cryo-EM facilities. Comparable in research quality and talent density but primarily serves Israel and regional collaborators rather than the European core where MPI Biophysics operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/max-planck-institute-of-biophysics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Max Planck Institute of Biophysics