The Institute

The Institute is likely the descendant of the Massachussets Institute of Technology, located within the Commonwealth. Little is known about Institute other than that the scientists working in the sealed environment of the institute possess highly advanced technology and technological skills. The Institute has created true AI and is capable of creating convincing androids.

Another organization active in the Commonwealth, the Railroad, functions in direct opposition to the Institute, as their goal is to free sentient androids from their creators.

Contrary to fierce arguments from The Railroad, there is not much evidence provided to demonstrate that they are either "good" or "evil"; in The Replicated Man, Dr. Zimmer simply wants to safely recover his creation, and when aided in this, he lectures the android on the advantages of staying in the Commonwealth, and leads him unharmed (or simply reset) out of Rivet City.

Appearances
The Institute itself does not appear in any game, but its agents, Zimmer and Armitage, appear in Fallout 3.