Materials are evolving today at a rate faster than any other time in the history of civilization. The emergence of new and improved materials, their processing and the development of a newer area of specialization known as Materials Design are stimulating innovation in all the walks of life making new designs for efficient systems and structures.

Development and exploitation of new materials like high performance composites, new engineering ceramics, high strength polymers and super alloys are providing better alternatives in terms of enhanced functionality and energy efficient systems with improved safety and reliability at a competitive price. Advent of smart and intelligent materials together with advances in processing technologies such as tape casting and screen printing, improvement in sensing and actuation technologies and their successful miniaturization and integration to composite structures along with developments in the field of real time data acquisition and information processing are likely to change the scenario in the most dramatic fashion in days to come.