NIST Tech Beat | November 2025
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Measure. Innovate. Lead.
NIST Engineers Design 5 New Ways to Connect Concrete Pieces for More Resilient Buildings
One of the biggest challenges with using precast concrete is connecting the pieces. Working with industry, NIST has come up with five new ways to do it. Read more about NIST's precast concrete research.
From the Steel City to the Lab: Strengthening the U.S. Steel Industry Through Science
A NIST researcher from Pittsburgh is working to understand how we can improve steelmaking right here in the United States. Learn more about Andrew Iams' research on steel.
From the Machine Shop to Cutting-Edge Technology: How NIST Helps Grow American Manufacturing
For more than a decade, Manufacturing USA has worked to grow and improve the U.S. manufacturing sector. Learn more about NIST's Manufacturing USA program.
NIST Issues Broad Agency Announcement for Proposals to Advance Microelectronics Technologies
The CHIPS for America funding opportunity will support critical research, prototyping and commercial solutions that advance microelectronics technology in the United States. Read more about the funding announcement.
NIST Researchers Probe the Mass of the Electron Neutrino
NIST built and developed ultrasensitive detectors that played a critical role in a recent experiment exploring how elementary particles obtained their heft. Learn more about the sensors built by NIST.
CAISI Evaluation of DeepSeek AI Models Finds Shortcomings and Risks
AI models from the Chinese developer DeepSeek were found to lag behind U.S. models in performance, cost, security and adoption. Read more about CAISI's findings.
The Nuclear Clock: The Next Leap in Timekeeping
Scientists are working on a new kind of clock that would tap the secrets hidden inside the atomic nucleus. Watch our video on YouTube to find out more about the next leap in timekeeping.
Appreciate NIST Tech Beat spotlighting this Broad Agency Announcement. It’s a timely reminder that advancing U.S. leadership in microelectronics isn’t just about technical breakthroughs—it’s about embedding governance, risk management, and standards into the innovation process. What resonates most is the call for proposals that balance cutting-edge exploration in semiconductors, AI, quantum, and biotechnology with pathways to commercialization and resilience. For those of us working in technology strategy and cybersecurity, this reinforces how inseparable risk-informed frameworks and cross-sector collaboration are from sustainable progress. This is an opportunity for leaders to champion responsible innovation, strengthen talent pipelines, and shape standards that build trust. Responding to initiatives like this ensures that microelectronics advances translate into secure, competitive systems that serve both national and global needs.