NIST Issues Final ‘Green Paper’ to Boost Federal Innovation

The National Institute of Standards and Technology released the findings from its final “green paper” showing how the government could bring federally funded inventions from laboratories to markets faster. The report contains 15 key findings focusing on streamlined federal regulations, public-private partnerships, building an entrepreneurial workforce and support for innovation, NIST said Wednesday. 

“Removing roadblocks, enabling entrepreneurs, attracting private investment and getting inventions from the laboratory into the marketplace faster are essential to unleash American innovation and to strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and national security,” said Walter Copan, director of NIST and under secretary of commerce for standards and technology.

The green paper is based on industry, academic and government stakeholders feedback gathered through NIST’s Return on Investment Initiative for Unleashing American Innovation. NIST intends to use the report to guide agencies in policy decisions to increase returns from the government’s over $150 billion annual investment in research and development.