NIST FY 2021 SBIR Phase I Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

NIST’s Advanced Communications, Networks and Scientific Data Systems activities enable secure, reliable, high-speed wireless and wireline communications critical to U.S. economic competitiveness, safety and security. NIST measurement science research and support for the development of standards accelerates the deployment of next-generation communication technologies needed for commercial- scale use of connected vehicles, “internet of things” (IoT) applications, drones and future artificial intelligence/machine learning-based systems. NIST is committed to helping solve the measurement and validation challenges of these fast-moving fields to help the U.S. achieve and maintain global leadership in these areas.

NIST has partnered with the U.S. manufacturing sector for more than a century and has a proven track record of delivering useful tools and technical assistance to existing manufacturers and aspiring start-ups. NIST's Advanced Manufacturing and Material Measurements activities provide industry with precision measurement technologies, tests, protocols and world-class scientific and engineering knowledge through targeted research across a broad portfolio, including advanced materials development, advanced sensing, biomanufacturing and smart manufacturing systems. NIST’s efforts in advanced manufacturing and material measurements rely on three major mechanisms: partnerships with manufacturers, development of physical and information standards, and development of new measurement capabilities.

NIST’s Cybersecurity and Privacy activities strengthen the security of the digital environment through a portfolio bridging foundational and applied cybersecurity research, and through the development of publicly available standards and technical guidance. NIST’s sustained outreach efforts support the effective application of standards and best practices enabling the adoption of practical cybersecurity and privacy. Through internal research and collaboration with the private sector, academia, standards development organizations, other government agencies and national and international stakeholders, NIST addresses the nation’s current and future measurement science needs and is responsive to Congressional mandates and Executive Orders.

At the heart of NIST’s mission is the dissemination of the fundamental units of measurement (the International System of Units, or SI). NIST determines the definitive methods for nearly every kind of measurement employed in commerce and research, provides NIST-traceable calibrations, and disseminates standards and best practices throughout the nation. Staying ahead of the increasingly challenging demands of U.S. industry requires that NIST push the frontiers of measurement science by devising new tools and techniques—especially at the quantum scale where the rules of classical physics do not apply. Through balanced and coordinated programs, NIST leads the world in disseminating the fundamental units of measurement. This leadership in metrology advancement directly impacts NIST’s relevance and leadership in measurement services.

NIST provides a solid foundation of measurement assurance enabling reproducibility of biomedical research results and confidence in clinical decision-making and ensuring the efficacy and safety of treatments. As a nonregulatory agency, NIST’s research plays an essential role in health and bioscience innovations, including in precision medicine, engineering biology, medical imaging, regenerative medicine and our understanding of the microbiome and how it affects health. New and improved measurement capabilities advance our understanding of biology and provide the basis for industries to harness this information for future medical technologies.

NIST’s Physical Infrastructure and Resilience activities support the safety, interoperability and resilience of the nation’s infrastructure at the component, structure and system levels. NIST’s research supports the development of building codes making the built environment healthier for occupants, more resilient against hazards, and safer for both residents and first responders. In collaboration with policymakers, building officials and planning groups, NIST produces guides to help communities integrate resilience into their economic development, zoning, mitigation and other local planning activities impacting buildings, public utilities and infrastructure systems.

NIST’s mission requires deep expertise in a broad range of disciplines. To best position NIST to support U.S. technological interests well into the future, it is essential that NIST maintain a portfolio of exploratory measurement science research programs. NIST invests in higher- risk and potentially transformative measurement science research to stay on the cutting edge of technology trends.