The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce that focuses on advancing measurement science, standards, and technology to improve products and services in the United States. Established in 1901 as a non-regulatory federal agency, NIST has since become one of the most respected organizations for technical research within its field due to its dedication to promoting innovation through collaboration with industry professionals.
At NIST, researchers are dedicated to developing new technologies that will help businesses succeed by providing them with reliable measurements for their products or services so they can remain competitive in today’s ever-changing marketplaces. This includes working closely with industries such as manufacturing, healthcare IT systems development/management software engineering construction materials testing automotive safety cybersecurity energy efficiency communications networks medical devices forensics robotics 3D printing biometrics nanotechnology artificial intelligence quantum computing space exploration additive manufacturing transportation logistics pharmaceuticals food processing agriculture water quality environmental protection aviation security building codes financial markets government operations education systems legal metrology laboratory accreditation information assurance law enforcement public health disaster management infrastructure resilience smart cities, etc.
In addition to these activities related directly to helping businesses succeed financially; NIST also works hard at maintaining national standards across all areas mentioned above which include:
- Developing guidelines & protocols for how different industries should measure product performance & reliability
- Creating best practices when it comes to data collection & analysis processes used by organizations
- Providing guidance on how both private companies & government entities should handle sensitive customer information securely.
- Set up frameworks designed specifically to protect consumers from cyber threats like identity theft or fraud.
Doing this work ensures that everyone is playing fairly and, more importantly, helps create trust between customers using various products/services offered by multiple vendors throughout any given marketplace(s). In other words; having a set standard allows people to know what exactly they are getting without worrying about being taken advantage of due to their lack of knowledge regarding certain topics related either directly or indirectly to whatever item/service might be under consideration at any given time!