Joint Technology Transfer Initiative: A New Program to Transition Research to Operations

In FY2016, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric  Research’s (OAR) appropriation included an increase of $6M to start a new program called the Joint Technology Transfer Initiative (JTTI).  OAR carried out this in coordination with the National Weather Service (NWS), and in cooperation with the American weather enterprise.  JTTI’s main mission is to ensure continuous, cost effective development and transition of latest scientific technological advancements to NWS operations.

Within OAR, the Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ) is responsible for managing this JTTI program and provide funding opportunities to transition latest weather technologies into NWS operations.   For FY16, JTTI program has two main themes.  They are improving convective scale predictions and improving water predictions.  Under these broader themes, the program has three priorities.  They are: (1) improving modeling capabilities, (2) improving observational capabilities and (3) improving data assimilation techniques.  The JTTI program sought proposals through an internal competition for NOAA scientists and an external competition for the broader American weather enterprise, which were consistent with NOAA’s policies on transitioning research to operations.   For the internal competition, proposals were sought through an internal announcement, and proposal selection was made by the NOAA Line Office Transition Management Committee.  From this selection, two proposals that best fit the JTTI program priorities were selected and funded.  For the external competition, proposals were sought through a NOAA Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO).   The JTTI program and the details of the projects selected for funding will be provided at the conference.