High-performance computing (HPC) supports efforts vital 

to national security, economic competitiveness and scientific 

discovery, such as defense and aerospace research and development, financial forecasting and climate prediction. Past national 

investment in HPC has contributed substantially to national 

economic prosperity and rapidly accelerated scientific discovery 

in areas such as neuroscience and energy technologies. Sustaining the United States’ decades-long leadership in HPC requires a 

national response to increasing computing demands, emerging 

technological challenges and growing international competition. 

A central element of this response will be foundational research 

and development that tackles the hardest measurement challenges in HPC technology, including hardware, software, data 

analytics and discovery tools, and other forward-looking technologies.

What NIST Does

NIST has supported the U.S. semiconductor industry from its 

inception, providing measurement tools and scientific insights 

that have helped to drive the steady increase in computing 

power. As we reach the limits of today’s semiconductor technology, NIST is poised to enable transformative new approaches to 

future computing by:

• Developing the measurement tools needed to support all 

apects of next-generation technologies and applications.

• Providing a coherent strategy for the co-design of hardware, 

software and architecture, supporting the wide variety of 

requirements across the federal government.

• Providing technical expertise and leadership, and cutting-edge 

capabilities through our user facilities and collaborations, to 

agencies tasked with the development and deployment of 

HPC systems.

BY THE 

NUMBERS

$514.70

Is returned for every dollar invested in high-performance computing

(IDC)

4,352 

square 

feet

Of floor space are taken up by 

the fastest U.S. supercomputer, called Titan (Department of 

Energy)

33.86 petaflops

The speed of the world’s 

fastest supercomputer, China’s 

Tianhe-2, which is nearly double 

the speed of Titan

(National Super 

Computing 

Center in

Guangzhou)

 233

Of the world’s 500 fastest 

computers are in the U.S.

(ExtremeTech)

www.nist.gov

FUTURE COMPUTING AT NIST
Program Goals

• Develop measurements for the structure and function of new computer logic switches.

• Coordinate logic, memory, storage and systems concepts needed in HPC platforms.

• Support alternative future computing paradigms such as quantum computing and brain-like computing.

• Assess the reliability and uncertainty of results produced by HPC systems.

• Provide measurements, standards and guidelines for the robustness and cybersecurity of HPC systems 

and networks.

Recent Program Highlights

• Pushed the limits of nanoscale measurement by developing techniques to use X-rays and other wavelengths of light to nondestructively measure miniscule features and flaws on silicon wafers.

• Broke the distance record for quantum teleportation, confirming that quantum communication is feasible over long distances in fiber and opening up the possibility of one day creating a “quantum Internet” 

based on light.

• Held a successful International Conference on Frontiers of Characterization and Metrology for Nanoelectronics to help the semiconductor industry confront the problem of what to do when conventional 

microprocessors simply cannot shrink any further.

New for FY 2017

NIST will strengthen the nation’s leadership in high-performance computing.

The request includes a $13.6 million increase to:

• Develop measurements for atomic-scale computer chip features, benchmark and test new logic and 

memory devices, and enable new paradigms such as brain-like computers or quantum computers.

• Determine how much we can trust “virtual prototyping” for complex designs and better connect simulation to real-world measurements to improve product design tools.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Dollars, in millions

FY 2017

Budget

FY 2015 FY 2016

12 12

25.6