THE MAX PLANCK APPROACH
The role of The Max Planck SocieTy wiThin The GerMan Science SySTeM
upport for the German science system background. However, to genuinely take the lead in comes from both the state and private international competition for knowledge and inno- sectors. Private enterprise accounts for vation, Germany also requires a sufficient number two-thirds of expenditure on research and of outstanding researchers from the select group of development in Germany; the remaining global pioneers in the different fields of scientific S third is mainly provided by the state universities, knowledge. which not only offer an academic curriculum but also carry out a wide range of research activities. In The harnack principle addition, several other research organizations pro- vide specific contributions to the science system. In The fundamental principle of the Max Planck Society terms of the overall structure of German science is to allow outstandingly creative scientists, who think and research, based on its science-led procedures, in interdisciplinary terms, scope for independent the Max Planck Society stands for the opening up scientific development. The Harnack principle takes of new fields in basic research, building strongly on its name from the first President of the Kaiser Wilhelm the individual creativity of its scientists. Society, which was the Max Planck Society’s predeces- sor organization. It represents a traditional policy of appointing the brightest minds as Scientific Members Knowledge must precede of the Max Planck Society, and building whole application departments around these exceptional individuals » when they become departmental directors. Yet the This stipulation, formulated by Max Planck, continues Harnack principle is concerned with more than just to determine the role and self-perception of the Max the central role of these researchers. It can also be Planck Society. Because the Society carries out basic seen as a complex of guiding principles for the research in the natural sciences and the humanities overall organization of research, with the aim of as an autonomous scientific institution, it must making new scientific perspectives effective in the compete at international levels for the brightest minds long term. and the best ideas. The necessary freedom to achieve this aim is Whoever wishes to acquire knowledge must afforded by the Society’s exceptional organizational explore new paths. Genuine innovation is usually structure. The Scientific Member alone decides on achieved in small, flexible groups that foster close his or her research objectives and methods. Such bonds and daring approaches. These groups must conditions, combined with rigorous selection of can- also have a long-term perspective to allow the didates for appointment, have made the Max Planck constant exploration of new methods and options Society one of the most attractive destinations in until a breakthrough is made. Germany for leading international scientists. Interdisciplinary cooperation is an important Once appointed, the heads of department or prerequisite for the identification of these new Max Planck Research Groups do not follow a cur- paths. By allowing specialists, who produce riculum or research programme determined by the outstanding work in their own fields, to cooperate organization or by market requirements. Instead, in a spirit of understanding and openness towards they rely on their own intuition, which allows them other disciplines without having to compete for as researchers to transform and advance the cause resources, it is possible to generate new, dynamic of science. The critical factor in the distribution of scientific ideas with enormous potential. This is the resources within the Max Planck Society is not an kind of interdisciplinary cooperation that takes institute’s overall performance — such as the pro- place in the Max Planck institutes. vision of particular courses or mastery of organiza- A science system requires wide coverage as well tional tasks — but the intellectual achievements of as excellence. A country like Germany, which de- individuals and their teams, for example by mak- pends heavily on technological innovation and ing new discoveries or advancing knowledge to endeavours to gear its social system towards the well- change the course of science. The Max Planck being of its citizens by adopting modern approaches, Society and its scientists see themselves as pioneers. requires a broad base of specialists with a scientific This requires establishment of a ‘community of
Research Perspectives of the Max Planck Society | 2010+ trust’, the basic units of which are the institutes. deliberations of the Scientific Advisory Boards also above Sculpture of the Genuine innovation can also be achieved influence the distribution of funds by the Max Planck head of Minerva, through the adoption of a long-term approach to Society: if the evaluation establishes that a department the goddess of wisdom, outside work. At the Max Planck Society, success is rarely or institute has a particularly outstanding or notably the headquarters measured over short periods of time. The adoption weak research performance, this will have an impact of the Max Planck of such a far-sighted approach is the only way to on the research resources provided to the Scientific Society. meet the challenge of exploring the unknown, Members concerned and their personal earnings. left Max Planck which is always essential if important breakthroughs Every six years, there is an extended evaluation of (1858-1947), are to be made. Crucial scientific landmarks are thematically-related institutes, which are grouped founder of often achieved by embarking on unknown paths. into a Max Planck Society research field. Comparative quantum theory, evaluation within the field is important, as is and former high trust: a leap of faith comparison with international developments in the President of the Kaiser Wilhelm Appointments, made in accordance with the field and the benchmarking of the evaluation Society. Harnack principle, involve the provision of funding procedure. based on a profound leap of faith. Therefore, the Max Planck Society’s finance model for Scientific Members is often referred to as being based on a high-trust principle. This contrasts with the low- Fig. 1 | Numbers of Scientific Advisory Board members and trust principle, whereby funding is allocated purely proportion of foreign members. on a project or programme basis, which has increasingly been used in the German science HS 155 members system over the past few years. At a Max Planck 73% foreign institute, when a scientist is appointed as director, BMS 292 members 85% foreign he or she is provided with resources until his or her retirement as a Scientific Member. Depending on the age at which such an appointment is made, this allows for between 20 and 30 years of independent BMS research — an appropriate period of time for the BMS foreign development of the new scientific ideas required to CPTS achieve breakthroughs. CPTS foreign Comprehensive quality assurance is an essential HS element of the high-trust principle practised by the HS foreign Max Planck Society. This is why the Society 79% foreign established an effective system of Scientific Advisory CPTS 309 members Boards (Fig. 1). Every two years, a researcher’s work There are around 756 highly qualified Max Planck Institute Scientific Advisory is subject to critical assessment from internationally Board members in total: between 5 and 15 per Max Planck Institute, depending on outstanding and independent colleagues within the size and subject. relevant specialist discipline. The members of these BMS, Biology and Medicine Section; CPTS, Chemistry, Physics and Technology Scientific Advisory Boards are both assessors and Section; HS, Humanities Section. advisors to the researcher being evaluated. The
2010+ | Research Perspectives of the Max Planck Society “The Harnack principle represents the traditional policy of appointing the brightest minds as Scientific Members of the Max Planck Society. It also stands for a complex of guiding principles for the overall organization of research, with the aim of making new scientific perspectives effective in the long term.”
part of this process, the institute consults with the Box 1 | Examples of Max Planck Society research partnerships Perspectives Commission of the relevant Section. An appointment committee, comprising high-ranking »• EnerChem: This project involves the Max Planck Institute of Colloids internal and external individuals established by the and Interfaces, the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, the Section, examines the proposal and independently Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, the Max Planck Institute of looks for suitable candidates. Following evaluation Coal Research and the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society. by a large number of renowned international experts, It focuses on the central issues concerning global energy supply in the final scientific assessment is carried out by the the twenty-fi rst century. By adopting a knowledge-based approach, Section members. A core element of the Max Planck it aims to develop new carbons as catalysts and electrodes for various Society’s culture is to expand the organization’s storage applications for chemical and electrical energy. common scientific basis by recruiting highly • MaxNetAging: This research network, involving more than 12 Max creative minds, and to improve the society’s overall Planck institutes and various leading national and international performance continuously through the appointment partners, examines the causes, patterns, processes and consequences of outstanding colleagues. of ageing. If several Scientific Members leave an institute, • Earth System Research Partnership: This partnership involves or if it is deemed appropriate by the President or the the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, the Max Planck Institute Sections for other reasons, consultation on the for Meteorology and the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry. subsequent procedure takes place at a higher level. It is engaged in the comprehensive analysis of the processes that A Core Committee or Presidential Committee contribute to climate change, including global warming. consults on development options, suitable fields and possible candidates. An extensive range of instruments, such as search symposia and the drawing up of competing strategic proposals is inTernal STrUcTUreS anD prOceSSeS: available for this task. The Max Planck Society also FOrM FOllOWS FUncTiOn attaches great importance to external expertise in these processes. An important factor in the success of the Max Planck Although research fields are sometimes first Society is the commitment of Scientific Members to identified during the appointment procedure, this think beyond their own departments in the interest does not conflict with the concept of appointments of the Society as a whole. This commitment is based on the Harnack principle; the main focus al- exemplified by the regular meetings of the three ways remains the person to be appointed. If the best Sections (Biology and Medicine; Chemistry, Physics possible person cannot be attracted in a particular and Technology; and the Humanities). The Sections field, a new research topic is selected. Excellence include all Scientific Members and representatives of is not compromised. The Max Planck Society some- the other scientific staff members for each of the times identifies outstanding researchers before scientific fields. At these meetings, the Sections establishing the Max Planck institute that would discuss the future scientific development of the Max provide the most beneficial working opportunities Planck Society and establish the basis for key for them. decisions. When a suitable candidate is identified, the de- A natural starting point for the reorientation of cision to appoint him or her is made by the Senate institutes arises when Scientific Members retire. At of the Max Planck Society. This body is made up of such times, suitable new topics are integrated into outstanding figures from the fields of science, in- the portfolio of the institutes through the careful dustry and politics, and further social groups. As development of existing topics, and ways of launch- with other important decisions, such as the found- ing new areas are established. The approach adopted ing of new institutes, the Max Planck Society also varies depending on the situation. avails itself of independent assessments by external If only one director leaves, an institute is experts in this instance. requested to identify an outstanding researcher who The President formulates the basic aspects of the best matches the institute’s overall profile and who Society’s science policy and is supported by the Per- can offer the greatest potential for innovation. As spectives Council, which represents a permanent
8 Research Perspectives of the Max Planck Society | 2010+ Presidential Committee, and the Senate Committee hold associate or full professorships (81%). Among above, Pathfi nder mission for Research Planning (a sub-committee of the the 255 former senior research scientists who have left to 1997: Exploring Senate). left the Max Planck Society since 2000, 107 now right Mars with cutting- » edge technology To shape the future development of the Max hold an associate or full professorship (42%). provided by a Max Planck Society, the President can also implement There has been a significant rise in the number Planck institute. structural measures and promote activities using the of doctoral students over the past ten years. Whereas Strategic Innovation Fund. This is the case, for the number of doctoral students from Germany Bat aerodynamics: Modelling the example, with setting up new cross-institutional increased by one-quarter, the number of foreign movements and research initiatives, appointing Max Planck Fellows, doctoral students almost quadrupled. The Max forces exerted by a establishing international Max Planck Centers, and Planck Society thereby not only attracts excellent bat in fl ight. financing cooperation projects between Max Planck young scientists to its own institutes, but, within institutes and Fraunhofer institutes. Innovative the framework of the International Max Planck Literature research: The individual projects, additional so-called free floating Research Schools (IMPRS), the Max Planck institutes entire holdings of Max Planck Research Groups, Partner Groups abroad also cooperate on doctoral education with many this Max Planck and the Minerva women’s programme also receive German universities, at which one-third of the research library support from this Fund. participants work. The IMPRS, in particular, attract are organized according to talented junior scientists from all over the world. the principles of BaSic reSearch FOr SOcieTY More than one-half of their participants are of an open-access foreign nationality. system. Basic research is the most important way of finding genuinely innovative solutions to significant prob- lems, which in various fields increasingly requires the pooling of expertise. Max Planck institutes form Fig. 2 | Numbers of junior researchers and guest scientists. partnerships with each other and with external partners (Box 1). These partnerships also involve co- The numbers of student assistants, holders of a bachelor’s degree at an operation with industry and provide comprehen- International Max Planck Research School, doctoral students, postdoctoral students, research fellows and guest scientists since 2001 are shown. sive consultation services to politicians on issues of major national significance. . Johansson/M. Wolf/A. Hedenström; Library: Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florence - MPI ( +(, ( ,.% C the number of junior research scientists working ( %&. ( (*+ (%%% ' ,-- &') &)+ &)% within the organization in recent years (Fig. 2). .- &', ; Bat: L. -, .' On the completion of their qualifications at a (* ,& NASA / Max Planck institute, many of these scientists & *+. & ,-' ' %.& ' &,% ' ((* ' *.' ' -+' ' .(* ( &). JPL are available to German society as highly qualified % '%%& '%%' '%%( '%%) '%%* '%%+ '%%, '%%- '%%. specialists. Of a total of 69 former heads of Pathfinder: independent Max Planck Research Groups, 56 now 2010+ | Research Perspectives of the Max Planck Society 9 “As a renowned basic research institution, the Max Planck Society enhances the German science system through its capacity for innovation, outstanding performance and high profile. Granting scope for independent scientific development, it is one of the most attractive destinations in Germany for leading international scientists.” Box 2 | Examples of successful technology transfer »• For more than 40 years, the low- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in sales barrier for blockbuster drugs in pressure synthesis of polyethylene has Göttingen more than 20 years ago. This 2010. been enabled by an organometallic is the only way in which scans can be • The fi rst successful use of small double- catalyst from the Max Planck Institute of carried out on a timescale that can be stranded RNA molecules in mammals Coal Research in Mülheim/Ruhr. tolerated by patients. (so-called RNA interference) in 2001 at More than 30 million tonnes of • The cancer drug SUTENT (sunitinib the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical polyethylene are produced each year, malate), which was developed more Chemistry in Göttingen paved the making it one of the most important than ten years ago at the Max Planck way for a completely new approach industrial plastics. Institute of Biochemistry, introduced to the treatment of many diseases. • Magnetic resonance imaging a new active principle to the modern Great medical hopes and economic scanners used in clinical examinations treatment of tumours. A medicine based expectations worldwide are pinned on throughout the world use the FLASH on this technology was licensed in 2006 this technology. process developed by the Max Planck and could break through the US$1 billion networking Technology transfer The close networking between universities and the The Max Planck Society along with its subsidiary Max Planck institutes generates significant benefits Max Planck Innovation has been operating one of in all locations. This is clearly evidenced, for example, the most successful technology-transfer centres in by the Excellence Initiative of the German federal Europe for decades. For the past few years, this centre government and the governments of the federal has generated around 15 million in transfer revenues states: applications for this initiative that were jointly each year — a mere fraction of the economic and submitted by a university and a Max Planck institute societal added-value created by the research results had a success rate that was approximately twice as of the Max Planck Society (Box 2). high as that for applications that did not involve the Max Planck Society. international outlook Basic research and application can no longer The quest for scientific insight is a globally-oriented be separated. Therefore, scientists from the process, and knowledge is a transnational continuum. Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the Max Planck Society A large proportion of the scientists at the Max Planck cooperate closely on various research topics. institutes come from abroad: 30% of directors and Knowledge recently acquired from basic research is 50% of doctoral students are of foreign nationality, developed into ready-for-market technology, which 2,500 cooperation projects exist between the Max raises new scientific questions in turn, and provides Planck institutes and foreign organizations, and innovative equipment and methods for basic 6,000 guest scientists at the Max Planck institutes are research. Examples include: from a foreign country. • NanoSTRESS project, for the development The shift in the global balance of power has also of measurement procedures and simulation had an impact on science. Today, more than 90% of techniques for thin films, nanostructures and global knowledge comes from outside of Germany. innovative devices, German research must, therefore, engage intensively • KORONA, for the development of a coherent in the science ‘hot spots’ abroad and prove its X-ray source for the generation and analysis of capacity for performance there. nanostructures, and In view of this situation, the Max Planck • BIOSOL, for the molecular analysis and sustainable Society also maintains a significant presence abroad exploitation of the genetic diversity of Solanum through its research and cooperation projects, for tuberosum (potato). example, through Partner Groups headed by young scientists previously employed at Max Planck 10 Research Perspectives of the Max Planck Society | 2010+ >chi^ijiZh$GZhZVgX]8ZciZgh HjW^chi^ijiZh$7gVcX]Zh Di]ZgGZhZVgX]>chi^ijiZh H8=A:HL><" Netherlands =DAHI:>C GdhidX` C^_bZ\Zc Eac Through the geographical distribution of its insti- tutes, the Max Planck Society makes a significant contribution to the establishment of equal living Box 3 | Examples of international cooperation projects conditions in the different regions of Germany. It can always avail itself of favourable location • common language resources and technology initiative (clarin): factors, and outstanding scientists are attracted to Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and 33 partners in 32 these locations thanks to the reputation and organ- countries. This is a cooperation project that combines linguistics izational principles of its institutes. The research technologies for research in the human sciences. topics of the Max Planck institutes are often • extreme light intensity short pulse laser (eli): taken up and complemented by local universities. Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and 36 institutions in 13 A radical split between research-intensive and countries. The aim is to develop a new kind of laser, the intensity of research-deprived regions, which has led, in part, to which outperforms current lasers by a factor of one million. significant economic imbalances in the United • integrated STrUcTural biology infrastructure (inSTrUcT): States, has been avoided in Germany up to now. The Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and 11 partners in 5 European Max Planck Society has made a major contribution countries. The aim is to combine structural biological information to in this respect. form a dynamic picture of cellular processes. Despite the fact that its institutes are distributed across various locations (see map), the Max Planck • atacama large Millimeter/submillimeter array (alMa): Society is still perceived internationally as a single Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and partners from Europe, entity. As a renowned basic research institution, it Eastern Asia and North America in cooperation with the Republic of enhances the German science system through its Chile. The instrument under development comprises 66 antennae for capacity for innovation, outstanding performance radio-astronomical investigations into the origins of the Universe. and high profile. 2010+ | Research Perspectives of the Max Planck Society 11