LABORATORY PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.

SEC. 107. LABORATORY PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.(a) In General.—The Director of NIST, acting through the Associate Director for Laboratory Programs, shall develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan for laboratory programs that expands—(1) interactions with academia, international researchers, and industry; and(2) commercial and industrial applications.(b) Optimizing Commercial and Industrial Applications.—In accordance with the purpose under section 1(b)(3) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271(b)(3)), the comprehensive strategic plan shall—(1) include performance metrics for the dissemination of fundamental research results, measurements, and standards research results to industry, including manufacturing, and other interested parties;(2) document any positive benefits of research on the competitiveness of the interested parties described in paragraph (1);(3) clarify the current approach to the technology transfer activities of NIST; and(4) consider recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences.