In the history of the institute, four main stages of its development can be distinguished.
The first stage (1976-1991) - from the moment the All-Russian Research Institute of Civil Defense was created in the system of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR until it was transferred to the system of the State Emergency Service - EMERCOM of Russia. At this stage, the main focus was on scientific research in the field of protecting the population from weapons of mass destruction, technologies for the behavior of rescue and urgent emergency recovery work in the foci of possible damage.
Large-scale man-made accidents and natural disasters of the second half of the 20th century showed the need to create a state structure aimed at confronting emergency situations, and the importance of taking measures to ensure the protection of populations and territories of the country from natural and man-made emergencies.
This was due to the second stage of the development of the institute (1992-2007). VNII GO was transformed into VNII GOCHS. The institute is entrusted with the tasks of developing theoretical foundations for the safety of the population and territories, assessing the integrated risk of emergencies, developing federal target and scientific and technical programs aimed at preventing and eliminating emergencies, developing tactical and technical requirements for technical means and technologies for emergency rescue and other urgent operations.
In 2002, by a decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, the institute was given the status of a federal center for science and high technologies.
The third stage of the development of the institute covers 2008-2015. Along with the coordination of scientific research in the field of civil defense and the protection of the population and territories from natural and man-made emergencies, the institute carries out fundamental and applied research to ensure the integrated safety of the life of the person, society and the state in modern conditions.
Currently, the fourth stage of the development of the institute is taking place. This is primarily due to the adoption by the Board of the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia of the Concept of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the All-Russian Research Institute of Civil Defense (FC) for the period from 2016-2021. At this stage, the institute's activities are aimed at implementing the state scientific and technical policy and solving scientific and technical problems in the field of civil defense and protection against emergencies. At the same time, the main efforts are focused on solving the following issues:
- development of scientific foundations and methods for ensuring integrated life safety of the individual, society and the state;
- development of a methodology for the development of civil defense as a state reserve system;
- development of a methodology for the development of the RSChS as a state system for managing disaster and natural disaster risks;
- improvement of scientific foundations and methods of emergency monitoring and forecasting;
- scientific and methodological justification for improvement of the emergency response system;
- scientific and methodological support for the formation of a culture of life safety as a system-forming factor in reducing the risk of emergency.
Today, VNII GOCHS is recognized in the world as a leader in the development and implementation of new technologies for human safety in the natural and man-made sphere.
