Nickel-filled composite copolymers of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate with polyvinylpyrrolidone and hydrogels based on them were obtained by the methods of polymerization filling and polymerization with simultaneous chemical reduction of nickel ions. The regularities of the mutual influence of the polymerization processes, the formation of nickel particles on the structure and properties of the polymer matrix and Ni(0) particles are investigated. The dependence of the peculiarities of the composite structure formation on the synergetic effects, which were caused by the interaction of the polymer matrix and the metal surface is established. Physico-mechanical, electrically conductive, magnetic and catalytic properties of the obtained composites, which depend on the characteristics of the structure of the copolymer, nickel filler and the conditions of their obtaining, have been studied.