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NIST in Florida

$37.5M

 in financial awards from NIST to organizations in the state of Florida since 2022

NIST Supports Key Sectors in Florida

Aerospace, aviation, and defense

  • In FY 2024, NIST supported Florida International University with $3.2 million for an aerospace cybersecurity center and a research institute for advanced materials for semiconductors. A proposed award of $6.7 million from NIST’s CHIPS for America program to Rogue Valley Microdevices in Palm Bay will increase the U.S. supply of semiconductors used by the defense sector.
  • Florida manufacturers rely on NIST reference materials for metals, glass, fuels, lubricants, cements, polymers and more to ensure small engineering tolerances and the highest quality control for parts where failure would cause catastrophic losses. 
  • NIST standards, calibrations and other services ensure accuracy in measurements of altitude and airspeed, and in remote sensing via satellites. The atomic clocks used by global positioning systems and telecommunications networks rely on precision timekeeping disseminated by NIST, starting with the NIST primary standard atomic clock
  • NIST supports deployment of the next generation of wireless communications, including providing world-class test beds for characterizing antennas for space applications. This research helps the industry make smaller antennas for smaller, less expensive satellites.

Biotechnology, life sciences and health care

  • In FY 2024, NIST supported Florida in modernizing and enhancing health care capabilities with $2.4 million for a bioengineering research center at the Moffitt Cancer Center. Additional 2024 grants totaling nearly $2 million to the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and Nova Southeastern University support early disease detection. 
  • NIST reference materials help Florida’s biotechnology industry innovate more quickly with quantitative analytical measurement tools for nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites and cell systems that manufacturers use to monitor and improve manufacturing methods and products.
  • NIST’s guidance on temperature control for vaccine storage has reduced waste by 30%, so more doses are available for more people. NIST’s calibration materials for magnetic resonance imaging help medical researchers develop quantitative tests that can rapidly determine if treatments for glioblastoma and other cancers are working, speeding clinical decisions. 

Advanced manufacturing

  • Since FY 2020, FloridaMakes Inc., part of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership, has received $21.5 million in federal funds from NIST, with over $10 million matched in nonfederal funds, to improve the productivity and technological performance of Florida’s manufacturing sector. 

FloridaMakes helped A-1 Industries in Fort Pierce automate portions of its wood truss manufacturing process, improving safety and increasing efficiency. The company realized a 5% increase in sales and reduced overall costs by 3%, retaining 65 jobs and adding 65 more.

Public safety, health and resilience

  • Florida was struck by 53 tornadoes in 2023. NIST researchers and collaborators have improved the design of buildings to perform better under high wind conditions. Our recommendations are being incorporated into building codes, making new structures safer. 
  • In FY 2022, NIST granted nearly $800,000 to the University of Miami to study polymer-reinforced concrete as a more resilient seawall material, and to study the simultaneous effects of wind, waves and storm surge on coastal structures. An additional award of nearly $1 million in FY 2024 will fund deployment of artificial reefs to protect shorelines from coastal flooding. 
  • In FY 2024, NIST awarded $9.4 million to the Florida International University for construction of an autonomous systems laboratory for coastal conservation and restoration. 
  • NIST provides near real-time identification of illicit street drugs submitted by state partners, including Florida. Reports on trends in detected drugs along with never-before-seen substances are released to state labs monthly.

CHIPS Funding

Rogue Valley Microdevices (Florida)

Proposed Award Amount
up to $6.7 million in proposed incentives
CHIPS Organization
CHIPS Program Office
The proposed CHIPS investment would support the construction of RVM’s pure play microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and sensor foundry facility in Palm Bay, Florida, and is estimated to nearly triple RVM’s manufacturing capacity. MEMS are microscale devices that integrate electrical and mechanical components; their integration with semiconductor components across a wide range of applications enables technology advancements and improved performance.

MEP Success Stories

From Startup to Industry Leader: JST Power’s Rise with FloridaMakes Support

Reported Year
2025
As a member of the Manufacturers’ Association of Central Florida (MACF), part of the FloridaMakes network, JST Power Equipment actively engages in value-added services such as networking events, webinars, and access to training and business advisory support. During an energy sector seminar hosted through this network, a major Florida power provider

Anchoring a Brighter Future for Small Manufacturing

Reported Year
2025
Fortress Marine Anchors is a small manufacturer with 14 employees. The company aims to grow by 50% over the next three years, driven by industry demand, but faces challenges in meeting this growth due to operational constraints and the need to find new markets to promote and sell their products. The management team at Fortress Marine Anchors

News & Updates

Learn how NIST improves the lives of all Americans by conducting research and fostering collaborations that make possible everything from reliable vaccine storage and fair fuel transactions to next-generation MRIs and fair stock trades. Check out NIST Works for You.

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