The National Research State University of Nizhny Novgorod was established on January 17, 1916 as Nizhny Novgorod People's University and named after N.I. Lobachevsky, UNN. Also known as Lobachevsky State University, UNN is a public research university in Nizhny Novgorod region and is one of the biggest classical universities of Russia.

The University launched its powerful supercomputer named Lobachevsky in the year 2014 at the Research Institute for Applied Mathematics and Cybernetics which is also the third most powerful supercomputer in universities of Russia which also brings it to the list of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. Being the participant of a Federal target program for the development of the medical and pharmaceutical industry, the Lobachevsky State University established its Center for Innovative Development of Medical Instrument Engineering in year 2017.

The university consist of 15 faculties and educational institutes with 5 research institutes, and 4 regional branches. Lobachevsky University has strong international partnership ties with more than 140 universities and research institutes from all over the world.

Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod includes Fundamental Library with collections of 2,200,000 volumes, Innovation Technology Centre, University Press and printing house and 5 museums such as Zoological Museum which is included in the top 5 university zoological museums in Russia, UNN History Museum with an Art Gallery, Archaeological Museum, Ethnographic Museum, and Nizhni Novgorod Radio Laboratory Museum.