The scientific production association (Russian: Научно-производственное объединение, romanized: 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.
NPOs, NPPs and NVPs house what are called in the English language research and development facilities.
[1] NPOs were established to consolidate research and production activities into a single entity.
[4] Though they exist in many sectors, they are most common in electrical engineering, electronics, aviation, instrument-making and chemical industries.
As a rule, the structure of the NPO includes research, design and engineering, technological organizations, pilot production and industrial enterprises.