Strategic Goal 2

Foster science and technological leadership by protecting intellectual property (IP), enhancing technical standards, and advancing measurement science

STRATEGIC GOAL 2 TOTAL RESOURCES
(Dollars in Millions)

	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002	FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
Fiscal Dollars	$1,644.0	$1,912.6	$1,945.0	$2,153.7	$2,241.3	$2,147.5	$2,456.5	$2,719.4
FTE – Full-Time Equivalent	9,547	9,578	9,575	10,068	10,074	10,005	10,022	10,582

STRATEGIC GOAL 2 PERFORMANCE RESULTS

Rating	Number of Reported Results
	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002	FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
Exceeded Target	0	1	2	1	9	11	8	9
Met Target	9	12	11	19	20	24	24	28
Slightly Below Target	1	5	2	0	1	2	0	2
Did Not Meet Target	5	5	8	10	11	7	4	0
See Appendix A: Performance and Resource Tables for individual reported results.

Working with U.S. industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and stan-dards, the Department of Commerce is focused on providing the infrastructure necessary to develop innovative breakthroughs and new technologies vital to the nation’s long-term economic growth.

The Department’s laboratories provide the measurement science and standards capabilities needed by industry to continually develop new and improved products and services and enhance quality of life. Over 380 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) staff members participate in more than 95 standards development organizations each year, and NIST sells as many as 31,000 Standard Reference Materials (SRM) and 5,000 Standard Reference Databases annually. The Department’s measurement and standards work addresses a significant portion of the nation’s modern technology-based economy, from the automotive to the biotechnology sector, from basic materials and manufacturing to information technology (IT), and from companies with a handful of employees to the largest firms along with universities and other government agencies.

Intellectual property (IP) is a potent force in, and a fundamental component of, the global economy. The Department strives to preserve the nation’s competitive edge by protecting IP and encouraging technological innovation. In market-driven economic systems, innovation provides a catalyst for economic prosperity through the accumulation of scientific knowledge, introduction of new products and services, and improvements in the productivity levels of land, labor, and capital resources.

A sample of significant accomplishments that the Department achieved in FY 2006 includes the following:

NIST

• Hydrogen Economy: “Nano-Cages” for Hydrogen. Researchers at NIST analyzed the lattice-like arrangement of atoms in a custom-made material known as a metal-organic framework, demonstrating that nanoscale “cages” formed in the material have a previously unrecognized capacity to store hydrogen. Their work implies that similar materials might be engineered to optimize both the storage of hydrogen and its release under normal vehicle operating conditions—potentially a “fuel tank” for future hydrogen-powered cars.



These “nanolights” made by NIST researchers are about a thousand times thinner than a human hair and may have many applications from “lab on a chip” devices for identifying chemicals to ultraprecise tools for laser surgery. Photographed by Lorelle Mansfield for NIST.

• Natural Disasters: NIST Cites Keys to Minimizing Structural Damage from Hurricanes. NIST coordinated a multi-organizational team of experts from private sector, academic, and federal entities to conduct a broad-based reconnaissance of areas impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to analyze the performance of a variety of physical structures during the storms. The experts found that stricter adherence to existing building standards, model building codes, and good building practices, and a greater recognition of the risks posed by storm surge, could minimize the kind of structural damage caused by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast states. NIST issued a report that made 23 recommendations for specific improvements in the way that buildings, physical infrastructure (such as bridges and utilities), and residential structures are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated in hurricane-prone regions across the United States. Many of those recommendations are being acted upon already.
• Nanotechnology: Building Infrastructure for Nanomanufacturing. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez announced the launch of a state-of-the-art center for collaborative nanotechnology research at NIST. At the new Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST), scientists from U.S. companies, universities, and government will focus on laying the technical groundwork necessary for U.S. industry to translate nanotechnology’s many anticipated offerings into practical realities—manufacturable, market-ready products.
• Competitiveness and Innovation: Assessing the Nation’s Measurement System. NIST launched an ambitious assessment of the nation’s decentralized measurement system to determine whether this vital infrastructure—the U.S. Measurement System, or USMS—can effectively address diverse needs for ever more exacting and reliable measurement and calibration tools in a high-tech, global economy. As part of this effort, NIST joined with other private and public sector organizations to conduct a series of public workshops to assess and document the priority needs areas for improved measurements and standards. USMS workshops have been held for a broad range of industries, including optical radiation measurements, proteomics, advanced electronics, telemedicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology, data storage, and broadband communications. In addition, NIST solicited input from hundreds of companies, agencies, and individuals. NIST will issue a report on the assessment by fall 2006.

USPTO

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). USPTO received 417,819 Utility, Plant, and Reissue (UPR) patent applications for FY 2006, an increase of 8.7 percent from FY 2005. USPTO published 291,259 pending applications and issued 183,182 UPR and Design patent grants. USPTO received 275,790 trademark applications containing 354,775 classes for registration, an increase of 9.7 percent from 2005. The Office registered 147,118 marks including 188,899 classes. Total office disposals were 256,002, including 315,783 classes. The inventory of total trademark applications under examination decreased by five percent from 497,400 files with more than 653,000 classes at the start of the year, to 474,241 files, including 634,087 classes at year end.

The Department has demonstrated successful progress under this strategic goal. Bureaus with programs supporting this strategic goal include the Technology Administration (TA), consisting of the Technology Administration/Under Secretary (TA/US), NIST, and the National Technical Information Service (NTIS); USPTO; and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

SUMMARY OF STRATEGIC GOAL 2 PERFORMANCE GOALS

PERFORMANCE GOAL	STATUS*
Promote innovation, facilitate trade, and ensure public safety and security by strengthening the nation’s measurements and standards infrastructure (TA/NIST)
Accelerate private investment in and development of high-risk, broad-impact technologies (TA/NIST)
Raise the productivity and competitiveness of small manufacturers (TA/NIST)
Enhance public access to worldwide scientific and technical information through improved acquisition and dissemination activities (TA/NTIS)
Improve the quality of patent products and services and optimize patent processing time (USPTO)
Improve the quality of trademark products and services and optimize trademark processing time (USPTO)
Create a more flexible organization through transitioning patent and trademark operations to an e-government environment and advancing intellectual property development worldwide (USPTO)
Ensure that the allocation of radio spectrum provides the greatest benefit to all people (NTIA)
Promote the availability, and support new sources, of advanced telecommunications (NTIA)
* = MET (100%) = SIGNIFICANTLY MET (75% - 99%) = NOT MET (<75%) = NOT APPLICABLE (back)