A new chapter in basic science collaboration between Korea and Germany has begun.

On Monday, July 28, the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) held an opening ceremony for the Max Planck–Yonsei IBS Center at the IBS Building on Yonsei University’s campus.

The Max Planck Society operates 84 institutes in Germany, along with overseas research centers and international cooperation hubs. The Max Planck International Centers serve as key platforms for global joint research with top partner institutions worldwide, with 18 such centers currently operating across 10 countries.

The Max Planck–Yonsei IBS Center aims to develop next-generation nanomedicine technologies capable of non-invasively and precisely controlling deep tissues and cells. It will be jointly operated by Korea’s IBS and Germany’s Max Planck Society as equal partners.

To support this collaboration, both IBS and the Max Planck Society have pledged up to €500,000 (approx. KRW 800 million) annually for up to 10 years. Participating institutions include the Max Planck Institutes for Medical Research and for Neurobiology of Behavior in Germany, IBS Center for Nanomedicine in Korea, and Yonsei University Medical Center, which will assist with clinical applications.

The center will promote multidisciplinary joint research including the development of nano delivery systems, precision control technologies, neuroscience-based validation, and clinical evaluations using disease models. Joachim SPATZ and CHEON Jinwoo will serve as co-directors of the Center and oversee its operation together.

Since its launch in 2015, the IBS Center for Nanomedicine has maintained top-tier ratings in research performance evaluations. The Center has published 366 SCI papers, including 15 in the top 1% by citation, and seven in Nature, Science, or Cell. With world-class infrastructure and researchers in nanoscience, the center has been expanding its focus into biomedicine. The launch of this joint research center is expected to pioneer new paradigms in future medicine, including nano-neuroscience and nano-immunology.

NOH Do Young, President of the IBS, stated, “We will continue to expand international cooperation platforms that allow our researchers to thrive on the global stage.” JUNG Taek-ryeol, Acting Director General for R&D Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, added, “I hope the official launch of the Max Planck–IBS Center will produce world-class research results and strengthen Korea–Germany ties, contributing to the betterment of humanity.”

To read MPG’s article about the opening of the joint Center, you can visit:
https://www.mr.mpg.de/14654184/new-max-planck-center-with-south-korea

IBS Public Relations Team
William I. Suh