Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing

The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (, or BAM) is a German material research institute.
History.
Its historical origins start in 1871, a year in which Germany was unified, as the "Mechanisch-Technische Versuchsanstalt". From 1904-19 there was the "Königliches Materialprüfungsamt". From 1920-45 there was the "Staatliches Materialprüfungsamt" (MPA) and from 1919-45 there was the "Chemisch-Technische Reichsanstalt" (CTR). 
In 1954 the "Bundesanstalt für mechanische und chemische Materialprüfung" was formed, becoming the "Bundesanstalt für Materialprüfung" in 1956. In 1969 it became a government agency (Bundesoberbehörde). In 1986 the name changed to "Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung".
Function.
Within the interconnected fields of materials, chemistry, environment and safety, the main areas are:
Structure.
It is owned by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. Its competences are to improve safety in technology and chemistry through research and development, testing, analysis, approvals, advice and information.
The headquarters in Berlin are near the Berlin Botanischer Garten station.
Departments.
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing is subdivided into departments and divisions. The staff sums up to about 1700 members.