The workforce was composed of 100 scientists and directors, about 50 postdocs, 190 doctoral students, 40 diploma students and auxiliary staff, and 130 technical and administrative staff. The focus on so-called soft materials and macro-molecular materials has resulted in the worldwide unique position of the MPIP and its research focus. The MPIP offers ideal conditions for conducting outstanding research. The institute combines all the necessary specialized expertise – from the creative design of new materials, from their synthesis in the lab to their physical characterization as well as the theoretical understanding of polymer characteristics. The institute is focused on basic scientific research in the field of polymers and has defined six focus topics: Multiscale Challenges, Proteins at Interfaces, Non-equilibrium Structure Formation, Water at Interfaces, Defect Engineering and Nanomaterials in Medicine. There is strong interaction between the different departments working on these interdisciplinary research topics.

The Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research will contribute to the project with expertise in surface functionalization of colloidal nanomaterials and characterization of nanomaterials in diverse biological media.