MPI for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter

What MPI for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter does

The Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) is a publicly-funded, non-profit basic research institute headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, on the Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld campus. It is one of 84 institutes within the Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.), a German non-profit research organization registered in Berlin. The institute investigates dynamical phenomena in matter down to the elementary timescales of atomic and electronic motions, operating through five scientific departments — Condensed Matter Dynamics (Andrea Cavalleri), Microstructured Quantum Matter (Philip Moll), Nanoscale Quantum Materials – Optics (Jie Shan), Nanoscale Quantum Materials – Transport (Kin Fai Mak), and Theory (Angel Rubio) — supported by four Scientific Support Units covering ultrafast beams, computational science, machine physics, and ultrafast electronics.

MPSD's core technology stack centers on ultrafast laser spectroscopy, time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (TR-ARPES), two-dimensional terahertz spectroscopy, tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), X-ray free-electron laser techniques, and first-principles theoretical methods including time-dependent density functional theory and quantum electrodynamical density functional theory. Notable experimental milestones include zeptosecond (10⁻²¹ second) timing precision in quantum systems and stabilization of light-induced superconductivity in YBa₂Cu₃O₆.₄₈ nearly 10,000 times longer than prior demonstrations. The institute is co-located with the DESY synchrotron (PETRA III) and European XFEL, providing privileged access to world-class light sources for ultrafast imaging and structural dynamics research.

MPSD is not a commercial entity. It does not sell products or services, does not generate revenue through licensing, and does not disclose pricing. Operating funds flow from the Max Planck Society — primarily financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and state governments — supplemented by competitive research grants (e.g., ERC Starting Grant) and collaborative funding from international partners. The institute's "customers" are the global academic research community, which it serves through peer-reviewed publications in Nature, Science, Nature Physics, PNAS, Physical Review Letters, and Science Advances; open scientific collaboration; the IMPRS for Ultrafast Imaging & Structural Dynamics graduate school; the Max Planck Graduate Center for Quantum Materials; and the Max Planck-New York Center for Non-Equilibrium Quantum Phenomena. The institute reaches academic audiences via scientific press releases, conference participation, the MPSD Exchange seminar series, video content, and a BlueSky channel.

Name

MPI for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter

Legal name

Max-Planck-Institut für Struktur und Dynamik der Materie

Website

https://mpsd.mpg.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) is a publicly-funded non-profit basic research institute in Hamburg, Germany, investigating the dynamics of quantum materials at ultrafast timescales using advanced laser spectroscopy and theoretical methods, serving the global academic research community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

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, Others

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The MPSD conducts fundamental scientific research into the structure and dynamics of matter at the elementary timescales of atomic and electronic motions, using ultrafast laser sources, X-ray free-electron lasers, and advanced theoretical methods. It operates five scientific departments and four Scientific Support Units, and contributes to doctoral training through the IMPRS for Ultrafast Imaging & Structural Dynamics and the Max Planck Graduate Center for Quantum Materials. As a non-profit research institute, it does not sell commercial products or services; its outputs are peer-reviewed publications, trained researchers, and open scientific knowledge.

Product overview

The Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) is a fundamental research institute, not a commercial product company. It does not offer products or services in the traditional sense. The institute conducts research in quantum materials, ultrafast dynamics, and light-matter interaction through five scientific departments (Condensed Matter Dynamics, Microstructured Quantum Matter, Nanoscale Quantum Materials - Optics, Nanoscale Quantum Materials - Transport, and Theory), multiple research groups, and four Scientific Support Units (Ultrafast Beams, Computational Science, Machine Physics, Ultrafast Electronics). Research focuses on probing and controlling matter at atomic and electronic timescales using ultrafast lasers, X-ray free-electron lasers, and advanced theoretical methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Condensed Matter Dynamics Department Research Fundamental research services using ultrafast laser pulses to probe and control quantum phases in solids; targeted at the academic and scientific research community in condensed matter physics.
• Microstructured Quantum Matter Department Research Research services investigating synthesis and quantum phenomena in microstructured quantum materials; for academic researchers in condensed matter physics and materials science.
• Nanoscale Quantum Materials - Optics Department Research Research services on optical characterization and control of two-dimensional quantum materials; available to academic collaborators and graduate students.
• Nanoscale Quantum Materials - Transport Department Research Research services on transport phenomena in two-dimensional quantum materials; available to academic collaborators and graduate students.
• Theory Department Research Theoretical research services on time-dependent density functional theory, quantum electrodynamical density functional theory, and first-principles modeling of quantum materials; serving the academic theoretical physics community.
• IMPRS for Ultrafast Imaging & Structural Dynamics Graduate doctoral training program in ultrafast imaging and structural dynamics, offering PhD positions to qualified students through the International Max Planck Research School; for prospective doctoral researchers worldwide.
• Max Planck Graduate Center for Quantum Materials Joint graduate training program in quantum materials research; for doctoral students across multiple Max Planck partner institutions.
• Visiting Researcher Program Hosted research visits for external academic researchers to use MPSD's ultrafast spectroscopy facilities and collaborate with institute staff.
• Ultrafast Beams Scientific Support Unit Shared infrastructure service providing ultrafast laser beam capabilities to MPSD researchers and external collaborators.
• Computational Science Scientific Support Unit Shared computational infrastructure and support for theoretical and data-driven research at MPSD.
• Machine Physics Scientific Support Unit Specialized support service for machine physics and instrument design supporting MPSD research activities.
• Ultrafast Electronics Scientific Support Unit Shared infrastructure service providing ultrafast electronics capabilities to MPSD researchers and external collaborators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Demonstrated zeptosecond (10^-21 second) timing precision in quantum systems
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2025Cornell University joined the Max Planck-New York Center as a new partner institution (2024 renewal). Jie Shan and Kin Fai Mak, professors at Cornell, became MPSD directors, strengthening academic ties between the institutions.
• Columbia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024Columbia University is a key partner in the Max Planck-New York Center for Non-Equilibrium Quantum Phenomena, providing transatlantic collaborative research in quantum materials and ultrafast dynamics. The renewed funding (2024) extends the partnership for five more years.
• Flatiron InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024Flatiron Institute partners through the Max Planck-New York Center for Non-Equilibrium Quantum Phenomena, contributing computational quantum physics expertise to collaborative research efforts.
• Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024MPIP in Mainz is a partner in the Max Planck-New York Center for Non-Equilibrium Quantum Phenomena, collaborating on quantum materials and ultrafast dynamics research.
• DESY (German Electron Synchrotron)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDESY (Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron) is located adjacent to MPSD in Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld. The partnership provides access to world-class light sources including PETRA III synchrotron for research collaborations.
• European XFELcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean XFEL is located in Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld, providing MPSD researchers access to X-ray free-electron laser facilities for ultrafast imaging and structural dynamics research.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT collaborated on research demonstrating that Ta2NiSe5 is not an excitonic insulator, with MIT Professor Nuh Gedik coordinating the international research team. Lead author Edoardo Baldini conducted postdoctoral research at MIT.
• Max Planck Institute for Solid State PhysicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed Ta2NiSe5 crystals for excitonic insulator research collaboration, synthesizing materials used in the study.
• University of TokyominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Tokyo collaborated on excitonic insulator research, contributing crystal synthesis expertise.
• Harvard UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEugene Demler's group at Harvard University was part of theoretical collaboration on excitonic insulator research, providing computational modeling expertise.
• Max Planck Institute for the Science of LightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPI for the Science of Light in Erlangen collaborated on magnon topological phases research, contributing to the transatlantic research team.
• University of GreifswaldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Greifswald participated in research on topological magnon phases verification using optical methods.
• RWTH Aachen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRWTH Aachen contributed to magnon topology research project investigating topological phases in magnetic materials.
• Center for Computational Quantum Physics at Flatiron InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed computational quantum physics expertise to the magnon topology verification research alongside Columbia University.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHZB collaborated on research showing light pulses can temporarily weaken electron repulsion in metal oxides, inducing metal-like behavior. Joint research published in Science Advances.
• Columbia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbia University collaborated with MPSD on research demonstrating that 2D quantum materials can act as cavities. PI James McIver's postdoctoral work developed the chip-scale circuitry, and Hope Bretscher from Columbia was lead author.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mpi-structure-and-dynamics-of-matter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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