Legal Definitions - NTIS

The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) is a U.S. government agency that functions as a central repository and disseminator of scientific, technical, engineering, and business-related information. This vast collection primarily includes research and development findings sponsored by the U.S. government, but also incorporates data from state and local governments, as well as international sources. Essentially, NTIS makes a wide array of government-produced knowledge and data accessible to the public, businesses, and researchers.

• Imagine a university professor conducting research on the long-term effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems. She needs to access the latest findings from various government-funded studies on sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and marine biodiversity. Instead of navigating countless individual agency websites, she can turn to NTIS.

  • This illustrates NTIS's role as a centralized hub. The professor can efficiently locate and acquire official government reports, data sets, and technical papers related to environmental science, all compiled and made available through NTIS, saving her significant time and effort in her academic research.

• Consider a small startup company developing advanced materials for medical implants. To ensure their products meet safety standards and to understand the latest innovations, they need to review cutting-edge material science research sponsored by federal health agencies or the Department of Defense.

  • Here, NTIS provides a crucial service by offering access to unclassified technical reports and research findings that might otherwise be difficult to track down. The firm can use NTIS to find detailed specifications, test results, and methodologies from government projects, helping them identify new opportunities, ensure compliance, or avoid duplicating existing research.

• A local journalist is investigating the effectiveness of a new public health initiative aimed at reducing a specific disease in their community. They want to review official government evaluations, statistical analyses, and best practice guides related to similar programs implemented nationwide by federal health organizations.

  • In this scenario, NTIS serves as a public resource. The journalist can search the NTIS database for relevant program evaluations, technical analyses, and research papers produced by government bodies. This allows them to access authoritative information to better inform their reporting and provide accurate context to the public.