Commercializing Innovative Technologies
We serve NOAA and the U.S. economy by transferring NOAA’s scientific and technological innovations to commercial applications, facilitating strategic public-private partnerships, and investing in small business research and development related to NOAA’s mission areas.
The NOAA Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) manages two unique and varied programs, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and Technology Transfer Program. The common thread between the two programs is the successful commercialization of innovative technologies in support of a strong and resilient U.S. economy.
NOAA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program funds innovative small business proposals for the development of technology, products, and services related to NOAA’s mission with excellent commercial potential. Visit our SBIR pages to learn more!
NOAA’s innovative scientists and engineers often develop new technologies, many of which are available here for public use and benefit. Check our Technology Transfer section for new opportunities.
Partnerships are essential to NOAA accomplishing its mission. Learn more about our partnerships opportunities by visiting our ‘Partner with NOAA’ pages.
When federal researchers and staff create or invent something, they also create intellectual property (IP). As with all federal employees and agencies, NOAA staff are required to report all IP created during the course of their employment through a process called invention disclosure.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants will provide early-stage capital for 17 U.S. small businesses The NOAA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program has awarded $11,009,857 in Phase II SBIR grants to 17 small businesses. This seed funding will support research and development of innovative technologies in the NOAA mission space.
NOAA and Esri will create a prototype for a one-of-a-kind, fully interoperable open data platform to provide equitable, actionable and ready-to-use ocean and coastal data for decision makers and communities.
The power of partnership shines when teams share resources and expertise in order to advance research or technology that would otherwise be difficult or unattainable if pursued on their own.
NOAA and United Airlines have announced an agreement to equip a Boeing 737 with a sophisticated instrument package that will measure greenhouse gases and other pollutants during domestic flights.