The IPCMS was born from a reflection initiated in the early eighties on the need to refocus and coordinate research in the physics and chemistry of condensed matter and materials.

In the context of the then emerging Materials Center in Strasbourg, a first reorganization project for condensed matter physics was formalized in 1983.

Then, in the same years, the strategic importance of materials for innovation is recognized, justifying the extension of the initial project to chemists, to constitute the backbone of the future institute by bringing together physicists and chemists on the objective of designing and studying new materials (metals, ceramics, ...) for their electronic properties (magnetic, optical, dielectric, etc.).

[2] Originally located on five different sites of the University of Strasbourg, it was in 1994 that members of the IPCMS were grouped together in the current building on the Campus of Cronenbourg.

The projects LabEX NIE and EquipEX UNION and UTEM that the IPCMS directs reflect the recognized position of the laboratory.