The focus of the research activities of IMDEA Materials is detailed in the Scientific Program 2008-2011 
. The Scientific program contemplates tow main research areas:
- The first one, more applied and encompassing the mid-term research interests of the companies associated to the Institute through a strategic partnership, deals with the processing, design and application of advanced structural materials within the aerospace, automotive and energy generation sectors. These interests are focused around two main types of materials, namely advanced metallic alloys and structural composites. Key materials and technologies of current interest for the companies are identified in the scientific program, but the expertise and the equipments can be easily transferred to carry out research in other materials of the same class.
- The second main area covers topics in the forefront of the scientific and technological research which are linked to the previous one and that will help to support the previous activities and to provide a technological leadership in the long-term. The activities included in this second area will include the development of hybrid structural materials or multifunctional materials with different integration length scales, smart materials (whose structural function is supported by sensors and actuators), tailored materials (including biomimetics, microstructural optimization, self-assembly) as well as the application of sophisticated simulation techniques (modeling of materials processing, properties and in-service reliability), eliminating the costly trial and error strategy which has been standard so far for the development of new materials.