— Ch. 1 · Founding And Establishment —
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems.
~3 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
On the 18th of March 2011, a new research entity emerged within the Max Planck Society. This date marked the official founding of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. The institute established two physical locations to house its operations. One site sits in Stuttgart while another occupies Tübingen. These cities became the geographic anchors for interdisciplinary work on intelligent systems. Scientists at these locations seek to understand how machines perceive and learn. They aim to create technologies that benefit society through this understanding. The organization combined hardware, software, and theoretical research from the start. Six departments were formed to structure this initial research effort. Faculty directors led each department with specific focus areas.
Research Departments Overview
Bernhard Schölkopf leads the Empirical Inference department located in Tübingen. Katherine Kuchenbecker directs Haptic Intelligence in Stuttgart. Michael J. Black heads Perceiving Systems back in Tübingen. Christoph Keplinger manages Robotic Materials and Physical Intelligence in Stuttgart. Moritz Hardt runs Social Foundations of Computation in Tübingen. Each director guides a team focused on perception, learning, or interaction. These six groups form the core structural backbone of the institute. Researchers combine computational, physical, and social intelligence to solve problems. The departments operate under the umbrella of the Max Planck Society. Their collective goal involves advancing fundamental questions about machine behavior. This organizational structure allows for diverse approaches to complex challenges.Independent Research Groups
Maksym Andriushchenko leads an independent group dedicated to AI Safety and Alignment in Tübingen. Florian Hartmann directs Biomimetic Materials and Machines in Stuttgart. Wieland Brendel heads Robust Machine Learning in Tübingen. Antonia Georgopoulou manages Cyborg Robotics and Intelligent Sensing in Stuttgart. Janneke Schwane leads Neuromechanics of Movement in Stuttgart. Buse Aktaş directs Robotic Composites and Compositions in Stuttgart. Jonas Geiping runs Safety- and Efficiency-Aligned Learning in Tübingen. Shiwei Liu heads Wild, Efficient, and Innovative AI Lab in Tübingen. These autonomous teams explore specific niches beyond the main departments. They focus on topics like biomimetics and robust algorithms. Group leaders operate with significant autonomy within the larger institute framework. Their work complements the broader departmental goals through specialized inquiry.