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Summary of NIST Laboratory Economic Impact Studies

  • Over 7-year period, 1996-2002, 19 economic impact studies conducted of NIST research programs

  • Average benefit-cost ratio of 44:1

  • Selection of projects for study based on perceived existence of industry impact (not randomly selected)

  • But, topics cover wide range of technologies and industries

  • And, estimates derived only from industries receiving direct transfer of research output from NIST (no multiplier effect estimated)

  • Hence, studies collectively provide good indicator of past and potential economic impacts


Bottom line: NIST has done a relatively large number of impact studies covering a wide range of technologies and industries. Therefore, these studies collectively can be viewed as a legitimate indicator of NIST industry impact.

Ecomomic Studies of NIST Laboratory Programs, 1996-2002
 For access to individual studies, see list on this web page
Note: a number of studies were conducted prior to 1996, but are not included in this list
Year Industry Project/Output
BCR
1996 Automation machine tool software error compensation/quality control algorithm
85
1996 Building Technology fire safety evaluation system
126
1997 Materials thermocouples/calibration SRD
3
1997 Parmaceuticals radiopharmaceuticls/SRMs
97
1997 Photonics detector calibration/stds & calibration services
3
1998 Chemicals alternative refrigerants/SRD
4
1998 Materials phase equlibria for advanced ceramics/SRD
10
1999 Semiconductors software for design automation/software model
23
2000 Pharmaceuticals cholesterol measurement/SRM
4.5
2000 Photonics laser and fiber optic power and energy calibration/calibrations*
7
2000 Chemicals sulfur in fossil fuels/SRM
113
2000 Building Technology construction system integration & automation technologies (industrial)
4.9
2001 Building Technology Fire Dymanics Simulation
101
2001 Electronics Josephson voltage standard/SRM
5
2001 Building Technology construction system integration & automation technologies (commercial)
4.1
2001 Communications data encryption standards/standard conformance test methods*
102
2001 Communications role-based access control/reference models
109
2002 Chemicals National Traceable Reference Materials Program/SRD; calibration services
21
2002 Manufacturing STEP/stds; conformance test methods & services
8
19 total studies
43.7
 Average BCR
*An interval estimate was calculated for this study; the mid point is used here

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Date created: 9/6/00
Last updated: February 5, 2008
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