Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research

Tasks

The Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) was founded on January 1, 1992. It is a member of the Scientific Association Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz e. V. Its forerunner was the (Zentral-)Institut für Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung of the GDR, originally the Institut für Kulturpflanzenforschung of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft, founded in 1943 by Hans Stubbe near Vienna.

Research goals

The objective of the Institute is to carry out basic and applied research on crop plants in the tradition of its predecessor institutions with special emphasis on genetics.

In accordance with Institute statutes, its research focuses on structure, function and evolution of genomes as well as on conservation and evaluation of the genetic diversity of crop plants, of their progenitors and relatives. A major aim of the Institute is interdisciplinary co-operation among the various biological fields investigated within its 5 scientific departments. To bring its scientific achievements to a wider public the Institute organizes and participates in many events to ensure that its science is coomunicated to all relevant audiences.

Co-operation with industry

The Institute co-operates with numerous plant breeding companies and the industry. This co- operation together with the establishment of biotechnological companies contributes to strengthening the Institute’s role as a centre of plant biotechnological competence. IPK currently owns 47 research and development results which are made available to industrial partners by way of Licence-, Option- and Transfer Agreements. The results are protected as patent and utility model applications as well as business secrets.

Training and education

IPK scientists teach at the Universities of Halle-Wittenberg, Jena, Braunschweig, Göttingen, Hannover, Kassel, Greifswald, Bochum and at Anhalt Technical University, Köthen (lectures, seminars, laboratory). The IPK supports the work of diploma and doctoral thesis candidates. Each year an eight-month course in plant genetic resource management steered by the German Foundation of International Development (DSE) is offered to advanced trainees from across the world.

Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research
Correnstraße 3
06466 Gatersleben
Tel: +49 (0)39482 / 50
Fax: +49 (0)39482 / 5500

Press releases

Further Information: www.ipk-gatersleben.de/