The IMS - Institute for Membrane and Shell Technologies was founded in 1999 in Bobingen, near Augsburg, Germany by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Off and Prof. Alexander Furche. IMS is a non profitable institute aiming to establish an independent research institute where research and development, teaching new construction methods especially related to membrane and net constructions, shell technologies as well as energy efficient building are focal points. Numerous members like professors, students, teachers, physicists, craftsmen and computer scientists from all over the world were the basis for the creation of a forum for exchanging experiences and knowledge in the field of membrane technology. Today the institute is led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Off and Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Warisch. With the nomination of Prof. Dr. Robert Off to the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Dessau, Germany, the foundation for the cooperation between the Anhalt University and IMS was laid and the vision of an international master program “Membrane Structures” became reality. The new and today main establishment of the institute was founded in Dessau-Roßlau to execute the teaching part of the IMS.