NIST Budget Request Proposes 7.3 Percent Increase in Funding

The fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget request for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) submitted to Congress proposes a funding level of $918.9 million, a 7.3 percent increase over the FY 2010 appropriations for the agency.

The proposed NIST budget is divided into three appropriations:

Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS), $584.5 million—This category includes $574.6 million for NIST laboratory research and $9.9 million for the Baldrige National Quality Program. The STRS request includes funding increases in several major research areas as well a $2 million increase to a fund for Strategic and Emerging Research Initiatives to ensure that NIST can quickly develop interdisciplinary research teams as needed to exploit rapidly changing innovation trends. The R&D initiatives include:

• Competitive Manufacturing and Construction in a Clean-Energy Economy:
  • Green Manufacturing and Construction (+$10 million)
  • Innovations for 21st Century U.S. Manufacturing (+$10 million)
• Standards and Conformity Assessment for Interoperability in Emerging Technologies (+$10 million)
• Scalable Cybersecurity for Emerging Technologies and Threats  (+$10 million)
• Innovations in Healthcare - Measurement Science and Standards to Support Manufacturing and Regulatory Approval of Biologic Drugs (+$10 million)
• Disaster Resilient Buildings and Infrastructure (+$5 million)
• Sustainable Energy Use and Nanomaterials:
  • Advanced Solar Technologies - Third Generation Photovoltaics (+$5 million)
  • Nanomaterial Environmental, Health and Safety (+$4 million)
• Strengthening Science, Engineering and Mathematics Education through the NIST NRC Postdoctoral Research Associateships Program (+$3.4 million)

Construction of Research Facilities (CRF), $124.8 million—This category includes $66.1 million for three initiatives to carry out major renovations of aging buildings on the NIST campuses in Gaithersburg, Md., and Boulder, Colo., as well as an increase to the agency's regular maintenance and repair budget.

Industrial Technology Services (ITS), $209.6 million—This category consists of funding for:

• The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)—Through locally based MEP centers, the program supports the adoption of technological innovations that spur economic growth and foster development of new products, expanded markets, and process improvements ($129.7 million).
• The Technology Innovation Program (TIP) —TIP supports, promotes, and accelerates innovation in the United States by funding high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need ($79.9 million).

For more details, see the Feb. 1 NIST news release, "Obama Administration's Budget Request Includes Vital Science and Technology Investments to Advance U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness."