NIST

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a United States federal agency within the Department of Commerce. Its mission is to advance measurement science, standards, and technology to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness, support public safety, and improve the quality of life. NIST conducts research, develops voluntary standards, and provides measurement services used by government, industry, and the public.

NIST traces its origins to the National Bureau of Standards, established in 1901 to support uniform measurement and fair commerce. It was reorganized as the National Institute of Standards and Technology in 1988. The agency carries out fundamental and applied research in a wide range of fields, including physics, chemistry, materials science, information technology, and bioscience, with an emphasis on measurement, standards, and technology transfer.

Key activities include developing and maintaining measurement standards, reference materials, and calibration services to ensure measurement traceability. NIST publishes guidelines and standards used by industry and government to ensure product safety, reliability, and interoperability. It also operates facilities and laboratories that support metrology, timekeeping, and materials characterization, and administers the Standard Reference Materials program to provide accurately characterized materials for research and industry.

NIST has played a major role in cybersecurity and cryptography by developing widely used standards and guidelines, such as the Cybersecurity Framework and cryptographic standards (for example, AES and SHA-3), along with related security controls and identity guidelines. The agency also administers programs like the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which promotes organizational excellence. NIST collaborates with international standards bodies to harmonize measurements and specifications worldwide.