中國科學院過程工程研究所前身是1958年成立的中國科學院化工冶金研究所。五十多年來，研究范圍逐步擴展到能源化工、生化工程、材料化工、資源/環境工程等領域，學科方向由“化工冶金”發展為“過程工程”。2001年更為現名。
      在國家“十三五”時期和中國科學院“創新2020”實施過程中，過程工程所進一步明確“引領過程工程科學前沿，支撐過程工業技術創新”的發展目標，瞄準國家戰略需求和世界科技前沿，針對當前制約過程工程跨越發展的突出問題，制定并實施“一三五”戰略規劃和科技布局：“一個定位”，即定位于過程工程的共性理論、關鍵技術及系統集成。面向過程工業轉型升級、產品結構調整和戰略新興產業發展的重大需求，發展過程工程科學前沿；“三項重大突破”，即介尺度理論與重大應用、礦產資源高效清潔利用、生物制藥過程關鍵技術與裝備；“五項重點培育方向”，即油氣高效轉化與綠色工程、功能材料化工及工程應用、生物質煉制過程強化與集成技術、綠色反應與分離工程、煤清潔轉化及綜合利用技術。圍繞重大突破和產出，探索適應過程工程跨越發展的體制機制，提出了創新科研組織模式和完善成果轉化鏈兩項重大改革舉措，形成符合過程工程學科發展規律的科研創新體系。
      這(zhe)些年來(lai)，研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)所(suo)從無到(dao)有(you)(you)、從小(xiao)到(dao)大(da)，現(xian)擁(yong)有(you)(you)中(zhong)(zhong)關村本部(bu)、廊(lang)坊分(fen)部(bu)和(he)鄭州(zhou)分(fen)所(suo)三個(ge)(ge)園區，中(zhong)(zhong)關村本部(bu)面(mian)向(xiang)基礎理論側重(zhong)原始創新，廊(lang)坊分(fen)部(bu)支撐成果轉(zhuan)化進(jin)(jin)(jin)行(xing)模式驗(yan)證，鄭州(zhou)分(fen)所(suo)推進(jin)(jin)(jin)產(chan)業應用(yong)進(jin)(jin)(jin)行(xing)示范工(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)，形成“一所(suo)兩翼”研(yan)(yan)發(fa)格局(ju)。研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)所(suo)現(xian)有(you)(you)四個(ge)(ge)國家(jia)(jia)級(ji)(ji)研(yan)(yan)發(fa)平(ping)臺：生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)化工(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)國家(jia)(jia)重(zhong)點實(shi)(shi)驗(yan)室(shi)、多相(xiang)復雜系統國家(jia)(jia)重(zhong)點實(shi)(shi)驗(yan)室(shi)、濕法冶金清(qing)潔生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)技術國家(jia)(jia)工(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)實(shi)(shi)驗(yan)室(shi)、國家(jia)(jia)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)化工(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)技術研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)（北京）；六個(ge)(ge)省部(bu)級(ji)(ji)研(yan)(yan)發(fa)平(ping)臺：中(zhong)(zhong)科(ke)院綠(lv)(lv)色過程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)與工(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)重(zhong)點實(shi)(shi)驗(yan)室(shi)、離子液(ye)體清(qing)潔過程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)北京市(shi)重(zhong)點實(shi)(shi)驗(yan)室(shi)、納米材料(liao)北京市(shi)工(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)技術研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)、過程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)污染控制環境工(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)、生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)質(zhi)研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)、循(xun)環經濟技術研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)。研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)所(suo)以(yi)促進(jin)(jin)(jin)重(zhong)大(da)產(chan)出、承(cheng)擔(dan)重(zhong)大(da)任(ren)(ren)務(wu)、培育人才隊伍為核心(xin)(xin)，集中(zhong)(zhong)優(you)勢(shi)力(li)量組建(jian)12個(ge)(ge)研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)部(bu)，大(da)幅(fu)提升承(cheng)擔(dan)重(zhong)大(da)科(ke)研(yan)(yan)任(ren)(ren)務(wu)的能力(li)。研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)所(suo)科(ke)研(yan)(yan)儀(yi)(yi)器設備(bei)投入逐年增加，通過購(gou)入、創新研(yan)(yan)制等(deng)方(fang)式大(da)力(li)進(jin)(jin)(jin)行(xing)科(ke)研(yan)(yan)裝(zhuang)備(bei)建(jian)設，目前(qian)資產(chan)總(zong)值(zhi)已達9.3億(yi)元(yuan)，其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)單價(jia)50萬元(yuan)以(yi)上先進(jin)(jin)(jin)設備(bei)190臺，總(zong)值(zhi)2.8億(yi)元(yuan)，120余臺先進(jin)(jin)(jin)通用(yong)儀(yi)(yi)器設備(bei)實(shi)(shi)現(xian)了(le)公(gong)用(yong)共(gong)享(xiang)，有(you)(you)力(li)地支撐了(le)研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)所(suo)科(ke)研(yan)(yan)快速(su)發(fa)展，并為上百家(jia)(jia)科(ke)研(yan)(yan)院所(suo)、大(da)學(xue)(xue)、公(gong)司等(deng)單位提供了(le)大(da)量的分(fen)析測試服務(wu)，得到(dao)用(yong)戶的廣(guang)泛認可。主辦《過程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)工(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)學(xue)(xue)報》、《計算機與應用(yong)化學(xue)(xue)》、PARTICUOLOGY（《顆粒(li)學(xue)(xue)報》）和(he) GREEN ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT（《綠(lv)(lv)色能源》）四個(ge)(ge)學(xue)(xue)術期刊，一級(ji)(ji)學(xue)(xue)會中(zhong)(zhong)國顆粒(li)學(xue)(xue)會掛靠我所(suo)。