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NIST Announces Funding for 2021 Standards Curricula Development Program

Application deadline is June 1, 2021

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) plans to award funding for cooperative agreements for curricula development that will educate students about the impact, nature, and value of standards and standardization so they develop a strong understanding and appreciation for the role of standards in the domestic and global marketplace.  

The NIST Standards Services Curricula Development Cooperative Agreement (SSCD CAP) Program is designed to help integrate standards and standardization content into undergraduate and graduate programs at U.S. colleges and universities using sustainable approaches that can be replicated and/or built upon. Since the program’s inception in 2012, NIST has received almost 200 applications and has made 36 awards totaling over $2.2 million. Awardees have developed curricula that cover a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, various science and engineering disciplines, business, public policy, law, and multidisciplinary approaches. In fiscal year 2021, NIST may fund up to eight projects of $25,000 to $75,000 each, for up to 24 months.

Accredited institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the U.S. or its territories are eligible to submit an application for consideration. Applicants may work individually or include proposed sub-awards or contracts with other IHEs in the U.S., non-profits, and commercial organizations. Industry support/partnerships that directly benefits undergraduate and/or graduate students is encouraged. Applicants are evaluated on their ability to meet criteria in four major categories: technical project approach and methodology; communication plan; staffing; and resource availability.

NIST plays a key role in the development of standards in the United States by working with industry and standards development organizations to provide the technical and scientific underpinnings that support sound standards. By providing specifications that ensure the reliability and interoperability of products and services, standards help to ensure their safety and reliability and to facilitate commerce.

Applications must be submitted through grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

Contact: NIST, Standards Coordination Office, SSCD CAP: sscdcap [at] nist.gov (sscdcap[at]nist[dot]gov)

 

Released March 31, 2021, Updated April 1, 2021