The Saint-Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics keeps the leading positions in the Russia in preparing the specialists highly skilled in the advanced unique technologies and science of XXI century. The University has passed more than 100 year history. The preceding educational institutions in this area have paved the way for development of the modern professional education in this area.

The University is one of the oldest educational institutions in Russia.

A date March 26, 2000 commemorates a 100th anniversary of the issuing a Resolution of the Russian State Council "On establishing the mechanics-optics and watch department at a Vocational School named after Crown Prince Nicholas". The resolution was based on a memorandum introduced to the Russian State Council on August 12, 1899 by the academic branch of the trade and manufactory department of the Russian Finance Ministry. It has been noted in this memorandum that " ... A most urgent demand of our horology is establishing a school for preparing the apprentices who could be able of the work in theoretical and practical horology ... It seems to be most expedient to combine in one school the training in both the horology and other precision works including mechanics and optics."

In compliance with mentioned resolution, an essentially new Particular five-year educational institution was established with purpose to train qualified masters in precision mechanics and optics. In 1905 the first class-leavers had graduated from the mechanics-optics and watch-making department of the Crown Prince Nicholas Vocational School.

One of originators of the mechanics-optics and watch-making department was Professor Norbert Boleslavovich Zavadsky (1862–1945). Moreover he was a pioneer in the instrument-making education in Russia.

As the archival documents witness, the mechanical-optical and watch making department of the Crown Prince Nicholas Vocational School was reorganized later into independent educational institution a Polytechnic Vocational School (1917), and then into Professional School of precision mechanics, optics and watch production (1922). In 1924, the Professional School was transformed into the Technical College of Fine Mechanics and Optics with purpose to train engineers in this specialization. In 1925 began preparation of the first instrument-making engineers, they had graduated from College in 1931.

In 1930 the Technical College was again reorganized into the Training Centre of Fine Mechanics and Optics that included the Leningrad Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics (LIFMO) as one of its integral parts. A first Institute Director became Dr. K. F. Meyer. In 1933, the Institute had separated from the Training Centre and became an independent educational institution (headed by Director A. V. Bakhshinov, 1931–1935).

During years of its existence the LIFMO envolved stepwise into higher technical educational institution training the engineers in a wide range of specialties. From this Institute a number of the influential scientific schools have originated, for decades they have dominated in the important fields of science and engineering.

In 1980, the Leningrad Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour for its contribution into preparation of the highly qualified specialists for the national economy and for the fruitful scientific researches. In 1994, the Institute was granted the status of Technical University, then reorganized and named the Saint-Petersburg State Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics (Technical University). In 1998, the university status of the St.Ptb. SIFMO (TU) was approved by the Governmental accreditation.

By the present time the University became one of the leading technical universities in Russia. A last title of the University is the Saint-Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (St.Ptb. SUITMO).

For years of its activity the university has prepared over 40 thousand specialists and brought an essential contribution into development of defensive potential of the country, it is a worldwide recognized higher school preparing the specialists, Bachelors, Masters and Doctors in optics, precision instrument-making and computer technologies.

• Leningrad Institute of Precision Mechanics and Optics