The formation of the optical industry in Russia and the main domestic optics center

Introduction. The article discusses the issues of the development of the optical industry in Russia. Based on the analysis of a wide range of archival data and published materials, the role of the leading industrial center of Russian optical science, the State Optical Institute (SOI), is shown. The prestige of the SOI at that time was extremely high. In 2028, the 110th anniversary of its foundation. The name “State Optical Institute” is a symbol of the world scientific center, whose equals can be counted on the fingers. Therefore, this event should be used to draw public attention to the problems of optics: science, education and industry. Results and Discussion. The article highlights the main events in the history of the origin and formation of the Russian optical industry and provides a brief description of them in connection with the social, economic and political development of the country. The first steps of the State Optical Institute as a scientific and technical center of the optical industry in Russia, and then the deployment of its activities as a leading industry institute, are considered.