The Max Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH (MPIE) is a joint venture between the Max Planck Society (MPG) and the Steel Institute
(VDEh), since 1971 on the legal basis of a limited liability company (GmbH).

Since half of the institute’s budget is supplied indirectly through industry, this institute is unique within the Max Planck Society.
The Max-Planck Institute for Iron Research was founded in 1917 by the Verein Deutscher Eisenhüttenleute (VDEh) and incorporated into the Kaiser Wilhelm Gesellschaft, the predecessor of the Max Planck Society.

It was first located in Aachen and was associated with the Technical University of Aachen. In 1934/35, the institute moved  to its present location on a site donated by the city of Düsseldorf.

In 1946, the institute’s heavily damaged buildings were reconstructed, work resumed and the institute became member of the Max Planck Society e.V..

The institute rapidly expanded and new laboratory buildings were erected in the early 1960s.

Following the appointment of H.J. Engell as director in 1971, a complete reorganization of the institute was carried out.

Up until recently, the institute has been headed by a chief executive director

(1971-1990: Prof. Engell, 1990-2002: Prof. Neumann) and an associated administrative director.
The internal structure of the institute changed again with the appointment of professors Raabe and Stratmann in 1999. Since then, all scientific members of the institute form an executive board of directors. The position of managing director will be filled, in rotation, by one of the board members.

A board, which supervises the institution’s activities, consists of representatives from the federal government, the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, the Max Planck Society and the Steel Institute. A Scientific Advisory Board comprised of prominent scientists assists the institute in finding the right balance between fundamental research and technological relevance.
Since 2000, the institute is again under reconstruction which will result in nearly 7500 qm of new laboratories and offices. The first new laboratories were opened in 2002 and the renovations are expected to be completed in May 2008.