The Institute has substantial experimental and theoretical research programs that are focussed on novel materials with useful functionalities. Of particular interest are spintronic materials and devices, neuromorphic devices and systems, nano-photonics, topological metals and insulators. The Institute is involved in extensive collaborative research projects, both National and International, with partners in China, India, Europe including Israel, and the USA. Besides, the institute has an extensive infrastructure that includes a state of the art modelshop, electronics workshop, a supercomputer, and a clean-room, as well as a wide range of modern experimental facilities.
The Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics was founded in 1992 as the first institute of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in the eastern part of Germany. It is partly located in the buildings of the former Academy of Science Institute of Solid State Physics and Electron Microscopy. The institute consists currently of two experimental departments and a theory department.