In 1948, the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science succeeded the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, founded in 1911, which numbered renowned researchers amongst its ranks, such as Albert Einstein, Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn, in addition to Max Planck himself. Today, the society stands among the world’s most prestigious research institutions, with over 85 institutes and research facilities. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the 31 Nobel Prize Laureates who have been part of its community.

A unique philosophy underpins its success: trust in excellent researchers who are empowered to define their own research paths and have the privilege to explore and delve into fundamental research in a collaborative environment supported by exceptional resources. This fosters an open and creative culture that drives progress and innovation.

The Max Planck Society’s research spans across natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Many fields of research require long-term commitments and significant resources, while the Society itself remains dynamic, establishing new institutes in response to emerging trends and challenges.

More than a network of institutes, the Max Planck Society represents a commitment to knowledge in service of the public, expanding understanding and shaping the future through independent, curiosity-driven research.

The Foundation within the Society

Within this landscape, the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law occupies a unique position. Established in 2013 as a German non-profit LLC (gGmbH), it succeeds the Global Knowledge Transfer Working Group at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, which had been active for over ten years prior to the Foundation’s establishment.

As an affiliated yet independent entity and wholly owned subsidiary of the Max Planck Society, the Foundation is dedicated to core principles reflecting the philosophy of the Society, such as academic excellence and accurate scientific conduct in all its activities. Therefore, the Foundation operates with its own mandate and institutional independence, while remaining closely connected to the scientific standards of the Society.

From Knowledge to Practice: Basic and Applied Research

The relationship between the Society and the Foundation reflects a broader distinction between basic and applied research. The Max Planck Society is dedicated to basic, or fundamental, research. Work aimed at exploring foundational questions is its primary objective. Its institutes generate insights that shape disciplines and contribute to long-term scientific progress across fields.

Rooted in the Foundation’s strategic approach is applied research, informed by academic excellence but directed towards the practical application of legal knowledge through legal consultations, comparative legal research and capacity building on legal and institutional challenges. It translates academic knowledge into practical legal support to conflict and post-conflict states while remaining a politically neutral party dedicated to the highest scientific standards. Rather than existing as separate spheres, these approaches are increasingly understood as complementary. Basic research provides conceptual depth, understanding and innovation, while applied research tests, refines, applies and contextualises knowledge.

Bridging Research and Practice

Building on this complementarity, the Max Planck Society and the Max Planck Foundation are engaging in a collaborative project funded by the Society. The project aims to create structured opportunities for exchange where insights from basic research can inform applied contexts, and experiences from practice can, in turn, feed into academic research.

At its core, this project focuses on the development of joint research initiatives and project proposals that pair the scientific strengths of selected Max Planck Institutes with the unique practical expertise of the Foundation. These collaborations are envisioned as interdisciplinary processes, linking different fields and approaches to connect basic research closely with the questions of application, particularly within the humanities, social and human sciences.

The initiative started at the end of 2025 and thrives towards a deeper integration of the Foundation within the Society as well as the identification of innovative cooperation projects across disciplines with selected Max Planck Institutes.

This project remains an open and evolving process. Its further development depends on the identification of suitable thematic intersections and the establishment of collaborative models that reflect the complementary roles of basic and applied research within the Max Planck system, while at the same time fostering synergies between both approaches.