The British Iron & Steel Research Association was formed on 27 June 1944. The association promoted and facilitated research and other scientific work in connection with the iron and steel industry, along with other trades and industries allied to the supplying of raw materials and processes.

The association was financed by a cooperative of steel producing companies. Its headquarters were situated in London and the main laboratory was in Sheffield with another in South Wales at Sketty Hall, Swansea.

After the end of the Second World War, Charles Frederick Goodeve was appointed Director of the Association which had a staff of ten people. Research projects were organised by various committees which were either joint ventures with industry or with the Iron and Steel Institute. The Council consisted of twenty-one members approved by the British Iron and Steel Federation and nine approved by the Iron and Steel Institute with a further member selected by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Because of the complexity of the Association and the various interests of the members on the Council it was difficult to do any research other than concentrate on areas common to most steel making companies, who would be willing to finance such research. Any innovative research tended to be carried out by the individual companies' own research departments, in order to stay ahead of the competing steel producing companies.

From these small beginnings Charles Goodeve set up new research laboratories or took over existing laboratories already conducting research in the field. The Association prospered under him and by 1963 employed 600 staff. The approach to undertaking research changed and the Association concentrated on carrying out initial research on a new project and then completing the work on the project in collaboration with a major steel company.

In 1967 the British Steel Corporation was established under the Iron and Steel Act, 1967. Fourteen UK based steel companies were brought under one umbrella organisation. During the early years of the Corporation the research association was absorbed into this new organisation. For a short while the name of the Association continued to be used after being absorbed into the new organisation. The name of the Association was reinstated in 2002 before being finally dissolved from Companies House Register in 2015.