County OKs $86.9M to bring Max Planck Institute to Jupiter Posted August 9, 2008 A German biomedical research facility to be called the Max Planck Florida Institute has been wooed to the Jupiter campus of Florida Atlantic University by Palm Beach County, the state of Florida and FAU. County commissioners last month unanimously approved allocating $86.9 million which will go toward the construction and operation of a 100,000-square-foot facility on six acres at the Jupiter site. It is the society’s first location in the United States and will be located near Scripps Florida. In March, the Florida Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development signed an agreement for $94 million from the state’s Innovative Incentive Fund, of which $10 million has already been disbursed. "Palm Beach County is an ideal location for the Max Planck Society because of our synergy with Scripps, and the proven commitment of the county and the community to enhance the life sciences sector," said Max Planck Society President Dr. Peter Gruss. "This is a very important day for our organization as we finalize our entry into the United States. This decision impacts the overall advancement of cutting-edge biomedical research not only in Florida but also in the U.S. and beyond," he added. The Max Planck Society, founded in 1948, operates 80 institutes in Germany and Europe with a staff totaling nearly 13,000 plus 12,000 researchers and visiting scientists pioneering research in areas ranging from astronomy to the humanities. To its credit, Max Planck has 17 Nobel laureates and recently developed the sensor currently being used on the robotic arm of NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander. In Florida, the institute plans to advance knowledge of bioimaging by using advanced techniques to study the molecular process. "When we achieve a deeper understanding of the structure, dynamics and function of molecules and tissues, we can then address some of the most challenging problems in biology, bioengineering and medicine, which can ultimately be used to help improve medical diagnostics and medical care," Gruss said. Max Planck Florida plans to collaborate with Scripps Florida on health-oriented research and establish relationships with FAU, Palm Beach Community College and other local universities to enhance their bioscience programs. These plans include intern programs, mentoring, a speakers bureau, a school lab for student fieldtrips, BIO-MAX educational materials, a science tunnel and scholarships for local science students. These programs will impact students from kindergarten through the college level. The Max Planck Florida Institute will move into a temporary space at FAU’s Jupiter campus in the spring of 2009.