National Institute of Standards and Technology

Founded in 1901, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.

NIST carries out its mission in four cooperative programs:


 * the NIST Laboratories, conducting research to advance the nation's technology infrastructure and assist U.S. industry to continually improve products and services;
 * the Baldrige National Quality Program, which promotes performance excellence among U.S. manufacturers, service companies, educational institutions, and health care providers; conducts outreach programs and manages the annual Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award which recognizes performance excellence and quality achievement;
 * the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nationwide network of local centers offering technical and business assistance to smaller manufacturers; and
 * the Technology Innovation Program, which will provide cost-shared awards to industry, universities and consortia for research on potentially revolutionary technologies that address critical national and societal needs.
 * Between 1990 and 2007, NIST also managed the Advanced Technology Program.

The agency operates in two locations: Gaithersburg, Md. (headquarters: 578-acre campus) and Boulder, Colo. (208-acre campus).