By transferring knowledge and technologies to society and industry, IIT's inventions generate income to support further research and reward inventors.

The 2018-2023 Strategic Plan is organized into four research domains: Computational Science, Life Technologies (LifeTech), Nanomaterials, and Robotics. Independent Principal Investigators (PIs) lead research lines coordinated under these research domains.
Facilities
IIT facilities contribute to the development of the Strategic Plan. Highly qualified facility staff provide scientific and technical assistance for basic and applied research using state-of-the-art equipment. Each facility offers researchers and students a wide range of services, from essential, routine to more advanced technical and consulting services.
Initiatives
Initiatives are visionary research directions that capitalize on IIT's unique standing and excellent research infrastructure to break new ground. Initiatives contribute to IIT's positioning in their respective fields, by training young scientists, and creating the necessary critical mass. Initiatives also address the major societal challenges outlined in the Strategic Plan, including sustainability, healthcare, and the aging population.
Moonshot projects
Ambitious plans designed to achieve seemingly impossible goals. By pushing the boundaries of knowledge, these projects help shape the future. Current moonshot projects at IIT include iCub and SPACEIIT.