The FY 2004 budget request for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) focuses on maintaining critical facilities and investing in research initiatives to ensure America’s leadership in science and technology. Key components include:
1. Building and renovation projects:
– $6.7 million for the Advanced Measurement Laboratory
– $21.3 million for Boulder Laboratory construction and renovation
– $10.6 million for safety, capacity, maintenance, and repair
2. Strategic research initiatives:
– Securing America’s Homeland: Funding for measurement infrastructure, building standards, and biometric identification
– Nanoscale measurement science
– Quantum information science
– Health care quality assurance
3. Facilities for future capabilities:
– Advanced Measurement Laboratory: World’s best measurement lab for 21st-century technologies
– Boulder Laboratory improvements: Addressing 50-year old facilities for nanotechnology, IT, and health care
NIST’s core mission is providing critical measurement capabilities, standards, and technical advice to federal, state, and local agencies, as well as the private sector. These efforts support national security, economic growth, and technological progress in industries like electronics, manufacturing, and information technology.
Keywords: Quantum, Measurement, Standards
