National Institute of Standards and Technology

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce. Established in 1901, NIST promotes innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. It is one of the oldest scientific organizations in the world with a long history as an important contributor to technological development.

NIST carries out its mission through four major programs: engineering laboratory; information technology laboratory; physical measurements laboratory; material measurement laboratory. The Engineering Laboratory develops new technologies that enable companies to design products faster while maintaining high levels of safety standards for consumers. The Information Technology Laboratory focuses on improving cybersecurity through research on encryption algorithms, authentication protocols, software assurance techniques, data privacy protection methods, etc. Finally, both Physical Measurements Laboratory & Material Measurement Laboratory are responsible for developing accurate reference materials used across industry sectors such as aerospace manufacturing or medical device production processes.

Overall, NIST plays an integral role in meeting national needs related to advanced measurement systems which can help drive productivity gains within various industries thereby boosting the US economy’s overall competitiveness globally. From enabling secure digital transactions via cryptography algorithms developed at the ITL division to providing calibration services & reference materials from PML/MML divisions – NIST provides invaluable contributions towards facilitating safe & reliable operations throughout entire value chain processes within many different industries worldwide!