The scientific production association (Russian: Научно-производственное объединение|Nauchno-proizvodstvennoye obyedineniye, NPO) is a form of scientific research-to-production enterprise in the Soviet Union and its successor states, including Russia and other union republics.
This type of structure is closely related to the NAUCHNO-PROIZVODSTVENNOYe PREDPRIYATIYe (NPP) structure, which translates to SCIENTIFIC AND PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE. NAUCHNO-VNEDRENCHESKOE PREDPRIYATIE structures (Scientific and Implementation Enterprise) also exist. NPOs, NPPs and NVPs house what are called in the English language research and development facilities.
The NPO structure first appeared in the late 1960s, after a Soviet decree was approved on 24 September 1968 to reform research and development structures; by 1980 there were 250 NPOs in the Soviet Union.[1]
NPOs were established to consolidate research and production activities into a single entity.[2] They were meant to bridge the technological gap between design bureaus and production plants, as new designs were often developed without considering the technical capabilities of the production facilities, leading to long delays between the start of development and serial production.[3] They are usually headed by a research or design organization.[4] Though they exist in many sectors, they are most common in electrical engineering, electronics, aviation, instrument-making and chemical industries.[1]
Research and production association (abb. NPO), also a research and production enterprise (abb. NPP; научно-производственное предприятие (НПП)) is an organization of any organizational and legal form that conducts research and development along with their development in production and production. As a rule, the structure of the NPO includes research, design and engineering, technological organizations, pilot production and industrial enterprises.