National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), part of the Department of Commerce, was established to maintain and improve U.S. industrial competitiveness. From the smart electric power grid and electronic health records, to atomic clocks, advanced nanomaterials, and computer chips, innumerable products and services rely in some way on technology, measurement, and standards provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.