The Institute of Electronic Measurements “Kvarz” (IEM KVARZ) was founded in 1949

in accordance with the Regulation of the USSR Council of Ministers, as Research

Institute -11 with a pilot plant, the aim of which being further development of research

and design of radiolocation industry basis.

The Institute history originates from a Niznhy Novgorod radio laboratory, founded in accordance with a Lenin decree dated December 2, 1918.

Since its foundation the Institute started research and design work on creation of new

trends and means of electronic measurement equipment. The first standard signal generators, spectrum analyzers and electronic voltmeters were developed here.

In May of 1956 by the Regulation of the USSR Council of Ministers the Reseach

Institute-11 was recognized as the leading Institute in the sphere of electronic

measurement equipment and was given a new name - the Central Research Institute –

CRI-11. The Institute started the development and management of serial production

of the latest electronic measurement equipment models.

In March of 1966 by the Minister order the CRI-11 was approved as the leading in the electronic measurement equipment industry and from January of 1967 it was renamed

to Gorky Research instrument-making Institute.

Further years of the Institute were marked by creation of its own microelectronics basis, manufacture of the first models of quantum frequency standards, beginning of the vast introduction of computer engineering means into measurement equipment.

The seventies went down in history of the Institute as a period for development and introduction of integrated approach to creation of measurement equipment – instrument complexes, designed on common circuit and  structural basis. The first sets of standard signal generators, spectrum analyzers, stroboscopic oscilloscopes, time and frequency measurement instruments, which can be assembled into automated measurement

systems operating by a specified program and jointly with an electronic computer.

The work was carried out on creation of automated systems for antenna parameter measurement of anti-missile defence stations. As a result, over 100 various antenna parameter measurements (as a set) were provided at the major defence objectives.

By the late eighties the leading Institute worked out 33% of research experimental engineering development of the sub-branch, provided with design documentation

11 serial-production plants for 27 measurement equipment trends.

The most important development of the period was the creation of the State time and frequency standard with uniquely high frequency stability. This development allowed

to solve a number of objectives in the field of space equipment and metrology.

In view of the fact that in 1990 Gorky City returned its original name, the Gorky Research instrument-making Institute was renamed to Nizhny Novgorod Research instrument-making Institute, the English version of which is IEM KVARZ – Institute of Electronic Measurements “KVARZ”.

At that time the Institute develops a new technology – technology of modular test equipment based on international VXI Bus, which is the basis for test and repair unification of all radioelectronic armament and military equipment means.

In 1998 IEM KVARZ acquired a status of the State unitary enterprise and in 2000 – of the Federal unitary enterprise.

In 2004 the Institute accepted a status of the State base scientific centre for electronic measurements.