The beginning of the National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics (NIRDTP) is marked in 1951 when, in the frame of Romanian Academy - Iaşi branch, the Physical and Technical Research Division was founded under the leadership of Prof. Teofil T. VESCAN and scientific coordination of Prof. Stefan PROCOPIU. The Physical and Technical Research Division later became the Technical Physics Centre (1977) under the coordination of the National Committee for Nuclear Energy of Romania.

In February 1990, based on the achievements and increase in the number of employees, the Technical Physics Centre became the Institute of Technical Physics IFT Iaşi, unit with legal personality, component of the Institute of Atomic Physics of Bucharest.

Until 1996, the institute functioned under the name of Institute of Technical Physics – IFT Iaşi.
In 1996, the institute has been assessed and accredited as National Institute of Research and Development for a period of 5 years, becoming the National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics (Institutul Naţional de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Fizică Tehnică - IFT Iaşi).

In the spirit of tradition initiated by Prof. Stefan PROCOPIU, NIRDTP develops fundamental and applied research activities, mainly in the field of magnetism, magnetic materials and their applications, including multidisciplinary applications. In recognition of the importance of scientific and technological results obtained in this field at national and international level, in 2000 the institute was granted, following a competition at national level, the status of Centre of Excellence of the Ministry of Education and Research - National Authority for Scientific Research.

In 2001, 2007-2008, and 2012, as a result of a re-evaluation process, NIRDTP has been re-accredited as National Institute of Research and Development by the National Authority for Scientific Research (now the Romanian Ministry of National Education).