大连工业大学创建于1958年，是我国最早建立的4所轻工业院校之一，原隶属轻工业部，1998年转制为中央与地方共建、辽宁省管理为主的体制。2007年3月经教育部批准，学校由大连轻工业学院更名为大连工业大学。半个多世纪来，学校逐渐发展成为以工为主，工、理、艺、文、管、经六大学科门类协调发展，以培养食品、轻工、纺织、艺术等专业人才为办学特色的高等学府。

Dalian Polytechnic University was founded in 1958 and is one of the earliest four light industry colleges established in China. Originally affiliated to the Ministry of Light Industry, it was restructured in 1998 into a system of joint construction by the central and local governments, with辽宁省 as the main administrator. In March 2007, with the approval of the Ministry of Education, the university was renamed from Dalian Institute of Light Industry to Dalian Polytechnic University. Over more than half a century, the university has gradually developed into a higher education institution with engineering as its main focus, coordinated development of six disciplines including engineering, science, art, literature, management, and economics, and is characterized by cultivating professionals in food, light industry, textiles, art, and other fields.

学校现有食品科学与工程、轻工技术与工程2个博士后科研流动站，食品科学与工程、轻工技术与工程、纺织科学与工程3个博士学位授权一级学科，14个硕士学位授权一级学科，9个硕士专业学位授权类别。农业科学、化学、工程学、材料科学、生物学与生物化学共5个学科领域进入ESI全球排名前1%，其中农业科学进入前1‰。学校共拥有80个市级以上研究平台，其中国家级平台4个，相关部委研究平台7个，辽宁省研究平台34个及大连市研究平台35个。

The university currently has 2 post-doctoral research stations in Food Science and Engineering, and Light Industry Technology and Engineering; 3 first-level disciplines authorized to confer doctoral degrees in Food Science and Engineering, Light Industry Technology and Engineering, and Textile Science and Engineering; 14 first-level disciplines authorized to confer master's degrees; and 9 categories of professional master's degree authorizations. Five disciplinary fields including Agricultural Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering, Materials Science, and Biology and Biochemistry have entered the top 1% of ESI global rankings, among which Agricultural Sciences has entered the top 1‰. The university has a total of 80 research platforms above the municipal level, including 4 national-level platforms, 7 research platforms of relevant ministries and commissions, 34 Liaoning Provincial research platforms, and 35 Dalian Municipal research platforms.