15 U.S.C. § 282a — Assessment of emerging technologies requiring research in metrology

The Board of Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology must include, as part of its annual review, an assessment of "emerging technologies" that are expected to require research in metrology — the science of measurement — so the Institute can keep up with its mission. The section lists example areas this can cover: process and quality control, engineering databases, advanced materials, electronics and fiber optics, bioprocess engineering, and advanced computing concepts. The review must also include estimates of three things: the cost of the research effort that would be required, the staffing levels needed, and how the Institute should appropriately interact with industry, including transferring technology to industry. Finally, the review must estimate how long a period the needed research would take.