Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

President Requests 22 Percent Budget Increase for NIST Core Programs to Advance Innovation and Competitiveness

Budget table

Washington, D.C.— President George W. Bush's fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget proposal submitted today to Congress for the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) includes $634 million for core research and facilities programs, a 22 percent increase (excluding congressionally directed grants) over the FY 2008 appropriations for these programs.

"The President's request focuses on high-impact research that will both address critical national needs and spur economic growth by advancing innovation and industrial competitiveness," said James M. Turner, acting director of NIST. "This budget continues the Administration's commitment to work toward a doubling of NIST's core budget by 2016 as called for in the President's American Competitiveness Initiative and authorized through 2010 by the America COMPETES Act."

"This budget also reflects some difficult decisions about priorities and reflects the President's guidance to restrain spending," Turner continued. "The request for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership is $4 million, enough for an orderly end to federal funding for the program, while no funds are requested for the Technology Innovation Program."

The total request of $638 million for NIST is divided into three appropriations:

Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS), $535 million—This category includes $526.5 million for NIST laboratory research and $8.5 million for the Baldrige National Quality Program.

Major components of the FY 2009 request include four new initiatives in the following areas:

NOTE: Additional information on NIST's budget is available at www.nist.gov/public_affairs/budget.htm.

Released February 4, 2008, Updated January 24, 2023