Background

Max Planck Institutes in Heidelberg

From the MPI for Astronomy to the German Cancer Research Center - Heidelberg has one of the densest research landscapes in Europe.

Four Max Planck Institutes in a small city

The MPI for Astronomy and the MPI for Nuclear Physics sit on the Königstuhl, the MPI for Medical Research in the Neuenheimer Feld, and the MPI for Comparative Public Law and International Law on the river in the city centre - the outlier of the group.

The institutes do basic research independently of the university, but are closely linked to it: directors normally hold a chair at Ruperto Carola.

Often counted in, but not part of it

The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) is frequently listed as a Max Planck Institute. It is not: the DKFZ is a Helmholtz centre and Germany's largest biomedical research institution.

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), an intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Heidelberg, is separate again. Together with the university hospital that produces Heidelberg's research density - under four different umbrellas.