In July 2008, the Board of Palm Beach County Commissioners voted unanimously to bring the Max Planck Society to Jupiter, Fla. Together with Scripps, the Max Planck Florida Institute will position Palm Beach County as a powerful magnet for the bioscience sector around the world, and lay a new, sustainable foundation for an expanded economic base that will bring high paying jobs with unparalleled educational and social dividends to the community.

Palm Beach County’s television station, Channel 20 produced "Biotech Gateway," the first in a series focused on the future of the life sciences sector in the county. Interviews include Kelly Smallridge, CEO, Business Development of Palm Beach County; Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene; Dr. Claudia Hillinger, Max Planck Florida Institute; and Dr. Harry Orf, Scripps Florida.

Max Planck Society recently brought their world-renown, interactive Science Tunnel exhibition to the South Florida Science Museum. Since making its U.S. debut in mid-January, it has attracted a record-breaking more than 20,000 visitors and school groups, prompting the Museum to extend its run until May 2009.