The Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences has a long history dating back to 1932. Institutes of chemical, geological and physical specialties were organized, thus providing a basis for the Ural affiliate of the Academy of Sciences. The Ural affiliate in its turn succeeded in transforming itself into an integrated science center, and in 1971 it grew into the Ural Scientific Center of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. As culmination of a rapid development of science in the Urals, the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences was established in 1987.

The crucial aim of the Ural Branch of RAS on the period until 2025 is to bring fundamental research at the forefront of the world level and to build-in academician science into innovative revitalization of economy of the Urals and Russia. To realize the main objective the Ural Branch is following to

three basic principles: a high priority of fundamental science, an integrated scientific-technological approach and contacts with regional industrial enterprises.The Ural Branch realizes a scientific and methodological support of organizations, located on the territory of the Urals, the Volga and the North-West Federal Districts. At full strength, the Ural Branch comprises 33 Institutes and Federal Research Centers placed in Orenburg, Kurgan, Izhevsk, Perm, Syktyvkar, Chelyabinsk, Arkhangelsk. 22 scientific organizations in all areas of sciences are based in Ekaterinburg. Scientific research in the institutes and centers is organized into the several sections: theoretical and applied mathematics and mechanic, electrophysics, thermophysics and thermal power, sustainable natural resource management, agricultural science, processes of governance, complex issues of machinery, medical science, immunology, physiology and genetics, theory of metallurgical processes, high temperature electrochemistry, population ecology, organic chemistry, comprehensive survey of mineral resources, integrated study of biological resources, human and society sciences.

The Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences attracts the very highest caliber of scientists and 36 academicians of RAS and 67 corresponding members of RAS are now working in the academic institutes. The scientific organizations of the Ural Branch of RAS invite all researchers to pursue their studies at Postgraduate course in more than 80 specialties as well as at Higher Doctorate. On the basis of academic institutes Scientific Councils and the sections of Scientific Councils of RAS on fundamental problems in physics, electrochemistry, metallurgical science, ecology, non-destructive testing have also been very active. Close ties with colleagues from universities enabled the creation of the foremost scientific schools and research is being successfully carried out in a wide range of areas: mathematical control theory, electrophysics, pulse high-energy technology, processes of heat transferring, solid state chemistry and physics, metallurgy, solid-fuel elements, hydrogen energy, nanomaterials, ecology, geology, geophysics and mining science, organic synthesis and bioengineering, regional economy.

Progress in science in many aspects depends on modern equipment and technologies. Academician institutes and specialized collaborative centers are well equipped with up-to-date instrumentation, enabling a unique opportunity to carry out fundamental research on the Programs of the Bureau and the thematic divisions of RAS, on grants of national and international foundations.

 The Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been actively promoting collaborative projects with regional industrial enterprises to implement the science achievements into commercial products. Institutes cooperate successfully on the basis of bilateral agreements with corporations and enterprises (Scientific and Production Association of automatics named after academician N.A.Semikhatov, Rosatom, academician V.P. Makeyev State Rocket Centre, Roscosmos, Novator Design Bureau, United Aircraft Corporation, Perm Engines, Perm research and production instrument making company, Uraltransgaz, Nika PetroTech, Transneft, Medsintez, OTCPharm, Pharmstandard and others). The Ural Branch coordinates the collaborative projects, holds exhibition events and meetings with business representatives to demonstrate the most promising innovations of the scientific organizations.  

The Ural Branch aims to bring together fundamental education and science. Academician Institutes and Universities carry out jointly basic research within the priority areas of the Strategy of science-technological development of the Russian Federation. Collaboration with Universities takes place on the basis of more than 50 joint departments, 20 university-academician centers of educational and innovative profiles. This reciprocal process enables scientists to be involved in educational process. On the other side, students and professors take part freely in scientific research followed by collaborative publications and teamwork participation at scientific conferences.    

The Ural Branch promotes scientific performance and productivity organizing and coordinating events in the frames of scientific-informational cooperation with European and Asian countries. It’s a good annually tradition to host foreign scientists and specialists from China, Germany, Great Britain, India. Partnership with diplomatic missions in Ekaterinburg has been ongoing and the leaders of the Ural Branch attend the official events in Consulate General of Great Britain, the USA, Germany, China, Hungary. 

In 1993 on the initiative of the Ural Branch of RAS with support from Administration and Association of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Sverdlovsk region The Demidov Scientific Foundation was revived. The Demidov Prize is awarded annually to outstanding scientists from Russia as the recognition of their contribution into development of fundamental science.