On 13 March 2026, Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall, Director General of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD), and his scientific teams had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the Max Planck Society, led by Professor Tobias Bonhoeffer. This meeting is part of the Max Planck Society’s strategic reflection on deepening its collaborations with African scientific institutions.
A high-level scientific exchange
Professor Bonhoeffer, accompanied by Ms Michaela Hergersberg, presented the mission and priorities of the Max Planck Society — a German institution of world reference in fundamental research, guided by the principle: “Insight must precede application.” This philosophy, which places the freedom of fundamental research at the heart of knowledge creation, resonates directly with IPD’s scientific approach.
In turn, IPD’s teams presented the institution’s positioning and capabilities: more than one hundred years of commitment to promoting equitable, sustainable and affordable access to healthcare in Senegal, across Africa and globally.
Towards new collaboration opportunities
This visit laid the groundwork for in-depth scientific dialogue and opened new perspectives for collaboration in research and health innovation. For the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, establishing ties with an institution of the Max Planck Society’s calibre represents an opportunity to strengthen its capacities in fundamental research and enrich its contributions to global knowledge production.
This meeting reflects the growing recognition of African scientific institutions in the global research landscape. It demonstrates that scientific excellence has no geographic boundaries — and that the most fruitful North-South partnerships grow from mutual respect for expertise.
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