From September 1-3, 2026, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hosted the 2026 Industry Partnerships Summit at the NOAA Auditorium and Science Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. The event was the culmination of NOAA’s Industry Partnerships program that brought together industry leaders and experts from the insurance and reinsurance, architecture and engineering, and retail and supply chain sectors. This program collaborated with industry users to develop environmental data products, tools, and resources that address real-world business challenges.
Together, NOAA and its industry partners are proving how better access to historical weather and other environmental information can make a difference for businesses. When they have up to date data, businesses can prepare for disruptions, protect assets, design stronger infrastructure, manage risk, maintain operations when extreme weather occurs, and expedite recovery afterwards. The benefits of this partnership extend beyond individual businesses, and support communities that depend on reliable buildings, services, transportation, and access to goods.
This three-day event brought together nearly 400 NOAA and industry leaders and experts to explore how weather and environmental data can be transformed into practical tools that support strategic business decisions. Discussions focused on applications such as assessing risk exposure, informing infrastructure and project planning, understanding the cascading impacts of severe weather, and preparing for potential disruptions to facilities, stores, and supply chains.
Collaborative Development with Industry
NOAA’s collaboration with these important sectors of the U.S. economy has helped address specific environmental data needs. Through working groups, user testing, and participating in industry conferences, NOAA partnered with users to improve the accessibility of its data, products, and services.
To learn more about the Industry Partnership program, or to discover how collaboration and NOAA data are helping industries turn environmental data into practical solutions, visit the Our Impact page.
