The control of a large variety of observation scales makes possible cutting edge studies on nanostructures and nanodevices (supported or not on surfaces). Research projects are developed along the following lines: chemistry of nanomaterials and characterization at the atomic scale, nanomagnetism and magnetic materials, organic electronics and spintronics, ultra-fast optics and nanophotonics, theory and computational material science. Accomplishments are made possible by the availability of an important variety of equipments, allowing for characterization of materials at all scales. IPCMS is affiliated to the national CNRS institutes of Physics and Chemistry. Close links are also established with nearby chemical/materials schools (ECPM, Chemistry Faculty of University of Strasbourg) as well as with the physical-engineering school Telecom Physique. The internal organization of IPCMS is based on five departments (Magnetic Objects on the Nanoscale (DMONS), Inorganic Materials Chemistry (DCMI), Organic Materials (DMO), Ultrafast optics and Nanophotonics (DON), Surfaces and Interfaces (DSI)). 240 people work at IPCMS, among them about 80 are researchers and university professors/assistants while 60 belong to the technical and administrative staff.