This research line aims to shed light on the mechanical properties of materials at the nanoscale. We perform nanoindentation studies of thin films and patterned structures to assess their Young’s modulus, hardness, elastic recovery and plasticity index. Finite element modelling is used for in-depth characterization of the elastic and plastic behavior of nanomaterials, including mesoporous layers, for an optimized device performance. We perform scratch tests of different types of coatings to assess their wear resistance. We also investigate voltage-driven strain-mediated coupling in ferroelectric/ferromagnetic multiferroic heterostructures. Sometimes, nanoindentation is used not only as a characterization tool but also to modify the microstructure of materials at the nanoscale for some target applications such as magnetic lithography, local compaction effects, to generate strain gradients, or to study flexoelectric effects, among others.