Creating a baseline for future evaluation of progress in achieving the NOAA Research and Development Vision Areas: 2020-2026

In order to provide a point of comparison for future evaluations of progress made toward NOAA’s strategic R&D vision, we performed an analysis of projects in the NOAA Research and Development Database (NRDD) related to the priority areas in the NOAA Research and Development Vision Areas: 2020-2026. We found the NRDD to be a useful tool for capturing a snapshot of NOAA’s scientific portfolio related to priority topic areas, types of partnerships, project connections and distributions across priority R&D areas, and project readiness levels. We discuss the potential of logic models as an evaluation framework for the NOAA R&D enterprise, the role of the NRDD data within that framework, and additional steps NOAA could take to more holistically connect NOAA R&D to societal outcomes.