Virtual reference feedback tuning (VRFT) design method can be applied to determine the parameters of a PID controller from the available process input and output data without resorting to the identification of a process model. Although it is an attractive alternative to the popular model-based controller design methods, the existing results are restricted to the linear systems. in this paper, an adaptive VRFT design method with application to the adaptive PID controller design is proposed. In addition, the relationship between the VRFT and IMC designs is analyzed as well. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the advantage of the adaptive VRFT design over the conventional VRFT design. (C) 2008 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.