National Institute of Standards and Technology, a unit of the US Commerce Department. Formerly known as the National Bureau of Standards, NIST promotes and maintains measurement standards. It also has active programs for encouraging and assisting industry and science to develop and use these standards.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce whose mission is to promote American innovation and industrial competitiveness. NIST's activities are organized into physical science laboratory programs that include nanoscale science and technology, engineering, information technology, neutron research, material measurement, and physical measurement. From 1901 to 1988, the agency was named the National Bureau of Standards.
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 3, 1901 (as National Bureau of Standards), became NIST in 1988 |
| Headquarters | 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S. 39°07′59″N 77°13′25″W / 39.13306°N 77.22361°W |
| Employees | Approx. 3,400 |
| Annual budget | $1.03 billion (FY 2021) |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent department | Department of Commerce |
| Website | www |
