General Info

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is a federal technology agency that aims to develop and promote measurement, standards and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade and improve the quality of life. A non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce's Technology Administration, NIST carries out its mission through four major programs; the NIST Laboratories, the Baldrige National Quality Program, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Advanced Technology Program. The NIST laboratories are located in both Gaithersburg, Md., and in Boulder, Colo. The Boulder laboratories conduct research in a range of chemical, physical, materials and information sciences and engineering.