The necessity of the foundation of the academic scientific institution in Ulyanovsk city was brought about by intensive raise of industrial branches using newest achievements in the field of optical fiber engineering. For instance, the development and production of local optical computer communicators and the on-board local optical networks began at the Ulyanovsk aircraft plant. The production of receiving-transmitting modules for glass fiber lines was organaized at another factories.

In this connection the development of technologies of manufacturing of optical fiber cables and devices for conjugation with transmitters and receivers of light was organaized, opto-electronics receiving-transmitting modules and optics fiber sensors of physical quantities for robotechnic complexes have been developed in the laboratory. Dr. A.A.Shirokov became the head of the laboratory. Afterwards he became a director of UB IRE RAS.

In 1987, in one year after its foundation, the laboratory technological equipment for the production of optical fiber was put into operation, and test consignment of optics fiber with high technical characteristics has been produced in co-operation with the Ulyanovsk aircraft plant. In 1987-88 the research directed to the creation of optical fiber sensors of electrical and magnetic fields was carried out. On its basis the systems for positioning devices in laser technology were developed.

A valuable contribution to these developments has been made by Dr. R.G.Kamalov, V.N.Larichev, Dr. G.K.Sharafutdinov, engineeres O.Yu.Vishnevsky and G.V.Titova.

Increased requirements of Ulyanovsk plants caused the growth of fundamental and applied researches. In this connection in 1990 the laboratory was reorganized in the Branch of IRE AS USSR. The basic trends of scientific activity were determined as fiber optics, optoelectronics, optical processing of information.

In 1991-92 the new scientific laboratories for optical investigations and developments were organized and equipped. The semi-basement rooms of former vegetable-storage cellar were used for that on 14, Sovetskaya Str. The staff of the Branch made the major repairs and reconstructions by their own forces. The laboratory for optical investigations was created on the basis of interferometric table and equipped by all the necessary optical and radioelectronic devices. The laboratory for investigation and development of fiber optical sensors, vacuum universal post, and pulse holographic equipment were installed.

By 1997 three subject scientific groups were formed:

1. Fiber-optical elements, devices, and systems
2. Wave and quantum processes
3. Physics of multicomponent liquids

The staff of UB IRE RAS consist of 31 persons, 12 of them being the scientific co-workers.