On  September  2,  at  Lanzhou,  Institute  of  Modern  Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Max-Planck Institut für Kernphysik (MPIK) at Heidelberg Germany.

This  MoU  is  the  new  phase of bilateral cooperation and is valid from the year of 2011 to 2014. Both sides reached the identified R&D projects for joint research and development, such as, the rare isotope research and development programs, the discretionary R&D affiliated with rare isotope technologies, the Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) and atomic physics related research, theory, or experimentation, and the ion–atom/molecule collision dynamics with imaging techniques. Especially, both parties will upgrade the ion storage capabilities at IMP (LPT/CSRe).

MPIK is one of Max-Planck Institute of Nuclear Physics, which is a German non-profit research organization and has no legal capacity of its own, and operated by the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science.

Over the years, IMP has a long-term relationship with MPIK under the Cooperation Framework of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Max Planck, specifically in such research areas as nuclear theory and atomic physics. In recent years, along the deepening of bilateral exchange of scientists, the areas of cooperation have been expanded and the level of cooperation and exchange has been increased.