Two weeks ago, the White House issued a memorandum recognizing the role of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in helping agencies implement best practices for standards development activities to address national priorities. The memo clarifies how federal agencies should work with the private sector in standards development, and it stresses the importance of public-private partnerships to the U.S. standards system and promoting innovation.

“NIST has more than 100 years of experience collaborating with industry and standards development organizations, and we’re looking forward to working with the White House and our colleagues in other agencies to share best practices as we implement the principles outlined in this memo,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Patrick Gallagher. “Recently, we’ve applied those lessons learned to helping coordinate standards efforts for such economically important areas as the Smart Grid, health IT, and the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace.”

 …