The Chinese Materials Research Society (C-MRS) is one of the world’s leading professional organizations in the field of materials science and engineering. Founded in 1991, C-MRS has developed into a comprehensive international platform dedicated to advancing materials research, technological innovation, industrial collaboration, and global scientific exchange.

C-MRS currently has more than 210,000 individual members, 58 specialized divisions, and over 500 institutional members, bringing together scientists, engineers, industry leaders, and researchers from universities, research institutes, enterprises, and international organizations across the full spectrum of materials science and technology.

As the headquarters host organization of the International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS), C-MRS plays an active role in promoting international collaboration and academic exchange within the global materials research community. The society maintains close partnerships with materials research organizations and institutions worldwide.

C-MRS organizes a series of internationally recognized conferences and academic events, including the World Materials Conference (WMC), China Materials Conference, World Energy Materials Conference, International Conference on Information Materials, AI + Materials Conference, and other major forums covering frontier topics in advanced materials. Each year, the society hosts nearly one hundred academic conferences, symposia, and professional events.

The society publishes 16 Chinese and English academic journals and collaborates with leading international publishers, including Elsevier and Springer, to publish high-level scientific books and reference series in advanced materials research.

In addition to academic activities, C-MRS actively promotes collaboration between academia and industry, supports innovation and technology transfer, and contributes to the development of advanced materials applications and standards.

C-MRS is also committed to science communication and education. Through publications, digital platforms, public outreach programs, and educational initiatives, the society works to promote public understanding of materials science and inspire future generations of researchers and innovators.

With a strong international vision and a broad interdisciplinary network, C-MRS continues to serve as an important platform for global cooperation and innovation in materials science and engineering.

The International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS) was established in 1991 and is one of the most influential international academic organizations in the field of materials science. It was initiated by materials research societies from the United States, Japan, Europe, China, and other regions, with the aim of promoting global collaboration, communication, and coordinated development in materials research. Since its inception, IUMRS has been committed to fostering interdisciplinary integration, facilitating international exchange and cooperation, supporting major scientific challenges, and advancing frontier research in strategic materials, becoming a vital hub in the global materials community and playing an active role in international scientific collaboration, organizational governance, and the cultivation of high-level talent.

IUMRS is dedicated to addressing the shared needs of the global materials science community and emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of materials research. It builds an open and inclusive international cooperation framework, promoting deep integration across physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, computational science, and energy-related fields. The union strengthens communication and resource sharing among national materials societies and organizes high-level international conferences, professional workshops, and programs for young researchers, enhancing global academic vitality and innovation capacity. Today, IUMRS brings together materials societies from North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, with members spanning research institutes, universities, national laboratories, and industrial research organizations, and enjoys extensive influence and recognition in the global materials research arena.

In terms of international academic exchange, IUMRS organizes and supports a series of major global conferences, including the International Conference on Advanced Materials (ICAM), the International Conference on Electronic Materials (ICEM), the series of Asian Materials Conferences (ICA), and the International Conference for Young Researchers in Advanced Materials (ICYRAM). These platforms provide comprehensive, high-level, and internationalized opportunities for researchers worldwide to share cutting-edge results, foster collaborations, and build global networks, playing a critical role in advancing materials research collectively.

In organizational development and service to the international materials community, IUMRS has established multiple specialized committees covering conference organization, publications, awards, and international cooperation development. The union confers prestigious awards, including the Somiya Award, recognizing outstanding contributions in international collaboration, frontier innovation, and academic excellence, particularly among young researchers. IUMRS has published the Facets newsletter and collaborates with the Chinese Materials Research Society (C-MRS) in publishing the English-language journal Progress in Natural Sciences: Materials International (PNS:MI), providing an authoritative platform for global academic exchange. Since 2005, IUMRS has been a member of the International Science Council (ISC), actively participating in global science governance and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Over more than three decades, IUMRS has developed a mature and stable international governance system and continuously expanded its membership to include new countries and regions, strengthening the global network for materials research collaboration. In response to accelerating global technological change and strategic needs in advanced materials, the union maintains an open and collaborative approach to innovation, driving breakthroughs in energy, information, environment, health, and manufacturing, and serving the progress of global science and sustainable development.

According to the union’s latest decision, the IUMRS Headquarters will be officially relocated to Beijing, China, in 2026, with operational management entrusted to the Chinese Materials Research Society (C-MRS). The relocation marks a new development phase for IUMRS and will further enhance its ability to coordinate with member societies, expand global research collaboration networks, and establish a more open, pragmatic, and efficient international platform for materials science cooperation. Looking ahead, IUMRS will continue to pursue the shared vision of materials scientists worldwide, promoting international cooperation, supporting young researcher development, addressing major scientific challenges, and striving to become one of the most cohesive and influential global organizations in the field of materials science, making substantial contributions to the advancement of global materials research.