瑞士联邦材料科学与技术研究所（EMPA）与苏黎世联邦理工学院(ETH Zurich)、洛桑理工学院(EPFL)、PSI、WSL、EAWAG同属于瑞士联邦理工学院及研究所联合体(ETH Domin), 成立于1880年，是一所有着一百多年历史的世界著名的材料研究所，同时也是瑞士四所顶尖联邦研究所之一。作为瑞士联邦理工中唯一的材料技术研究所，主要从事材料科学和技术的跨学科研究，在纳米结构材料和表面、生物启发材料、纤维素可再生材料、环境技术、能源技术、生物医疗技术等方面进行深入研究。有超过50多个国家的研究学者在此进行材料科学领域的研究工作。EMPA在读学生全部注册在世界顶尖理工院校ETH Zurich和EPFL，由两所学校的顶尖科学家指导完成论文。
研究所的愿景是在创新技术的帮助下帮助缩短材料循环，为循环经济铺平道路。来自研究、工业或公共部门的合作伙伴一起，为繁荣的明天突破科学和技术的极限。作为ETH领域的跨学科研究机构，EMPA从事尖端材料和技术研究。研发活动侧重于满足行业和社会需求，从而将面向应用的研究与纳米结构、“智能”材料和表面、能源、可持续建筑和环境技术以及医疗技术和个性化医疗解决方案领域的新理念的实际实施联系起来。EMPA致力于为合作伙伴提供定制的解决方案，增强他们的创新优势和全球市场竞争力，并改善广大公众的生活质量。
The Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), together with ETH Zurich, Ecole Polytechnique Lausanne (EPFL), PSI, WSL and EAWAG, belongs to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Research (ETH Domin), which was founded in 1880. It is a world-renowned materials research institute with a history of more than one hundred years and one of the top four federal research institutes in Switzerland. As the only institute of materials technology in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, it is mainly engaged in interdisciplinary research in materials science and technology, conducting in-depth research in nanostructured materials and surfaces, bio-inspired materials, cellulose renewable materials, environmental technology, energy technology, biomedical technology, etc. Researchers from more than 50 countries work here in the field of materials science. EMPA students are all registered with ETH Zurich and EPFL, the world's leading technical institutions, and will be supervised by leading scientists from both schools to complete their theses.
The institute's vision is to help shorten the material cycle with the help of innovative technologies, paving the way for a circular economy. Partners from research, industry or the public sector work together to push the limits of science and technology for a prosperous tomorrow. As an interdisciplinary research institute in the field of ETH, EMPA is engaged in cutting-edge materials and technology research. R&d activities focus on meeting industry and social needs, thereby linking application-oriented research with the practical implementation of new ideas in the fields of nanostructures, "smart" materials and surfaces, energy, sustainable building and environmental technologies, as well as medical technology and personalized medical solutions. EMPA is committed to providing its partners with customized solutions that enhance their innovative edge and global market competitiveness, and improve the quality of life for the public at large.