Selected Programs and Initiatives

Biomanufacturing Initiative

The NIST biomanufacturing program supports the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry's delivery of high quality and low cost protein drugs around the world. Learn more about our rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Carbon Capture and Carbon Sequestration

Even with the transition to renewable energy sources, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) are critical technologies needed to reach US climate goals. Carbon capture (CC) at point sources is vital for mitigating emissions from power and industrial plants. CDR, focused on capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (Direct air capture, DAC) or ocean and durably storing the CO₂, can address legacy emissions that have built up in the atmosphere over the past century. 

Circular Economy

NIST supports the nation's transition to an economy based on materials that repeatedly cycle within the economy and retain their value, reducing or eliminating waste and pollution. 

Engineering Biology

NIST is focused on the development of measurements and other tools that will enable improved predictability and scalability in the engineering of biological systems.

Physical Infrastructure Metrology

We make measurements that can prioritize the nation's many urgent infrastructure projects, and enable adoption of more durable, lower cost materials for infrastructure renewal.

Materials Genome Initiative

NIST is working to build the materials innovation infrastructure in support of the Administration's Materials Genome Initiative. Our mission is to accelerate materials innovation with a material genome approach in order to decrease the cost and time-to-market by 50%.

Precision Medicine

NIST is playing a pivotal role in helping to define the measurements and standards needed to ensure the promise of precision medicine, which is an emerging approach for disease prevention and treatment that takes into account an individual’s genes, environment and lifestyle.

Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing fabricates parts by building them up layer-by-layer (as opposed to cutting material away or molding it). It shows great promise for applications as diverse as lightweight aerospace structures and custom biomedical implants.

Data & Informatics

NIST's Office of Data and Informatics is a premier, pioneering resource for researchers and institutions in the biological, chemical, and materials sciences who need to leverage both large and information-rich data sets now common in many disciplines.

Safety, Security, & Forensics

Our research and measurement services support safety, security, and forensics, from gunshot and explosive residue detection, to ensuring the performance of body armor materials, to DNA-based human identity testing.

nSOFT

nSoft is a NIST-led consortium of industrial, government, and academic members designed to further the NIST mission to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science and reducing barriers for industrial research programs at peer-review based user facilities. 

NIST Center for Automotive Lightweighting

Our objective is to develop the measurement methodology, standards and analysis necessary for the U.S. auto industry and base metal suppliers to transition to advanced lightweight materials for auto body components without wasteful trial-and-error development cycles, and successfully transfer this technology to our customers in industry.