This year’s MPQC Retreat took place from 29 September to 3 October 2025 at Gut Ulrichshusen in Schwinkendorf, Germany. Alongside project updates from all MPQC themes, the program featured deep-dive sessions, thematic workshops, and discussions on research collaboration and career development. We were especially pleased to have Dr Alexandra Tits lead an interactive session on how our members define and pursue success in science. Another highlight was the cross-theme discussion on emerging shared goals and future directions, which will continue in a planned follow-up session in early 2026.