Founded in 1928 as the Engineering Institute of National Central Academy, SICCAS has evolved into a dynamic institution dedicated to advanced inorganic nonmetallic materials research. In 1959, the Institute was separated into two independent Institutes. The ceramic part was reformed as the Shanghai Institute of Ceramic Chemistry and Technology, and then was renamed as the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics since the year of 1984.

SICCAS stands as a beacon of excellence in both pioneering basic research and innovative applied research, focusing on a diverse array of research areas. These include high performance ceramics and superfine microstructures, structural ceramics and composites, inorganic functional materials and devices, energy materials, inorganic coatings, artificial crystals, biomaterials and tissue engineering, environmentally friendly materials, the analysis and characterization of inorganic materials, and the technological study of industrial ceramics and ancient Chinese ceramics.