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.” [www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/budget_2011.html]

Media Contact: Ben Stein, bstein@nist.gov, (301) 975-3097