IDMEC is a non-profit private Association founded by Instituto Superior Técnico - Technical University of Lisbon (IST) and Faculdade de Engenharia - University of Porto (FEUP).

The Institute has been created in April l991 within the CIENCIA programme, by the Departments of Mechanical Engineering of both IST and FEUP.

The Institute comprises two branches - at IST and FEUP - with financial and management autonomy.

The researchers of both branches are affiliated to IST or FEUP. A variable number of researchers from other Institutions collaborate with IDMEC.