The object of the foundation is the historical study of science and technology in the way that shall be considered better adapted to its aim.

José Antonio García-Diego was a civil engineer who dedicated most of his life to the historical study of technology and science in Spain. His main contributions in the field of hydraulic engineering are: the discovery of Giovanni Francesco Sitoni's Tratatto delle virtù et propietá delle acque, del trovarle, eleggerle, livellarle, et condurle, et di alcune altre sue circonstanze and his life-long commitment to the study of The Twenty One Books of Engineering and Machines by Juanelo Turriano, both in association with Dr. Alexander Keller.

His interest for the history of technology led him to establish connections with numerous scholars and scientific societies all over the world and to create the Sociedad Latinoamericana de Historia de las Ciencias y de la Tecnología.

As his fame grew, he was elected, among other things, President of the International Committee for the History of Technology (ICOHTEC), Vice-president of the Sociedad Española de las Ciencias y de la Tecnología and member of the Académie Internationale d'Histoire des Sciences. Ten years before he died, García-Diego created the Fundación Juanelo Turriano to continue his work and left it his fortune and his magnificent scientific library.

This institute took its name from a brilliant scientist from Cremona who came to Spain with Charles V. Giovanni Torriani (1500?-1585), known in Spain as Juanelo Turriano, was an outstanding clockmaker and engine deviser. His scientific prestige was such that Phillip II chose him to participate in pope Gregory XIII's reform of the calendar. His main contribution was, nonetheless, in the field of hydraulic engineering: the "Toledo Engine", designed to bring water to Toledo.

The Fundación Juanelo Turriano is an active member of the international scientific community and keeps alive its founder's contacts. The institute belongs to the following scientific societies:

• Sociedad Española de la Historia de las Ciencias y de la Tecnología.
• International Committee for the History of Technology (ICOHTEC).
• Society for the History of Technology(SHOT).
• Sociedad Latinoamericana de Historia de las Ciencias y de la Tecnología.
• The International Molinological Society (TIMS).
• The British Sundial Society.
• The Newcomen Society.
• Real Sociedad Bascongada de los Amigos del País.

• Grant of fellowships in its field of activity.
• Acting as an intermediary between scholars and the general public through the publishing of original papers.
• Publishing facsimile editions of historically important scientific works.
• Study grants.
• Coordination and participation in national and international congresses, symposia and conferences to foster communication and debate.
• Organisation of exhibitions on relevant topics.
• Studies to promote the record of engineering works in the register of monuments of cultural interest.
• Open access to its library to scholars.