The NOAA Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) manages two unique and varied programs, the Small Business Innovation Research 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.  Both programs are mandated under federal law through the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017, the Stevenson-Wydler Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C 3710(a)), and the Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (15 U.S.C 63 § 3701).

The TPO is located within the NOAA Office of Research, Transition, and Applications (ORTA) and functions as NOAA’s commercialization office.  The TPO is the NOAA focal point for research to commercial (R2C) transition activities and is an important component of NOAA’s public/private partnership activities. 

TPO staff sit on the NOAA Line Office Transition Managers Committee and represent NOAA on a number of interagency groups addressing Small Business Innovation Research, Technology Transfer, and Lab to Market initiatives.