After World War I, in 1920, the Institute of Mechanical Technology II was founded on the initiative of Prof. Ryska. Its task was to supplement the teaching of technological processes, lectured at the Institute of Mechanical Technology I since 1901, with the technological properties of materials (weldability, castability, formability).

In 1921, Ing. Dr. mont. František Píšek was appointed associate professor of Mechanical Technology II. He reorganised the institute's study programme and expanded it to include lectures and exercises in metallography (academic year 1926/27). Under the leadership of Prof. Píšek, the institute developed rapidly and laboratories for metallography, dilatometry, chemical analysis and mechanical testing were gradually established. The institute focused primarily on the study of the properties of foundry materials (foundry alloys and moulding materials).

The institute operated in this form until the closure of universities during the Second World War. After the war, the organisational structure of Brno University of Technology was restored to its pre-war form, and the reforms of higher education in 1945 and 1948 did not bring about any changes. In 1951, the faculty was transferred to the VTA, including both technological institutes. Part of the Institute of Mechanical Technology II was assigned to the University of Civil Engineering as the Department of Foundry Engineering.

The institute's activities were not resumed until 1956, when the Brno University of Technology was established. The Department of Materials Science, headed by Prof. F. Píšek, was established at the then Faculty of Energy, taking over the traditions and work of the former Institute of Mechanical Technology II. The department was gradually led by Prof. Osina (1961), Prof. Dorazil (1969), Prof. Míšek (1989) and Prof. Ptáček (1991). The department developed successfully and, until 1964, provided teaching in the specialisation "Forming".

In 1964, the Department of Forming was established by delimiting some laboratories and classrooms of the Department of Materials Science and transferring part of the teaching staff of the Department of Materials Science. The Department of Materials Science continued to provide teaching in the specialisation "Forming – Heat Treatment".

In 1985, the electron microscopy and X-ray structural analysis laboratories separated from the department and transferred to the SVVÚ (Joint Scientific and Research Institute) of the Brno University of Technology, where they formed a separate unit called the Instrument Centre. This centre provided research services for all faculties of the Brno University of Technology.

On 1 September 1992, the Institute of Materials Engineering was established, which was created from four departments of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: the Department of Materials Science, the Department of Foundry Engineering, the Instrument Centre and the newly established Department of Advanced Ceramics Research. The institute consisted of four departments, which provided teaching in basic studies and in the specialisations "Materials Engineering" and "Foundry Engineering" and complemented each other organically in research. These were the departments of Materials Science, Foundry Engineering, Structural and Phase Analysis and Ceramics. Prof. Švejcar was appointed as the first director of the institute, followed by Prof. Čech, Prof. Ptáček, Prof. Cihlář and Prof. Dlouhý.

Currently, the institute is called the Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, and its director is Prof. Pantělejev .

The institute continues the traditions of Prof. Píšek's modern approaches to science and education. It carries out extensive educational activities and is involved in national and international research projects. Another important activity of the institute is its extensive cooperation with industry in the field of materials and processing technologies. The institute's staff are members of national and international professional societies.