Our Center is a registered association and operates as a non-profit organization under
the German law. It has been founded by a group of scientists coming from three institutes of the Max Planck Society,
three universities of Berlin and the Technical University of München, from the Max Delbrück Center for
Molecular Medicine and the National Metrology Institute (PTB) in Berlin (see Members). The Center does not carry
its own scientific investigations. Its intention is to promote fundamental research, exchange of information and
international contacts in experimental and theoretical studies of complex chemical systems, see Vision Statement.
The Center organizes regular seminars, workshops and conferences covering a broad spectrum of problems related to
complex chemical systems. Our approach is interdisciplinary and combines physical, chemical and mathematical aspects.
Special attention is paid to the applications to molecular cell biology. Most of our activities are organized in
cooperation with the universities and research institutes. In the formulation of its scientific program and organization
of its activities, the Center is advised by an international Scientific Council.
The Chairman of the Council is the Nobel Prize laureate, professor Gerhard Ertl.