IFREMER
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersIssy-les-moulineaux, France
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
IFREMER firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IFREMER
- Legal name
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer
- Website
- https://ifremer.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IFREMER industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine science research services
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Engineering Services (541330), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI), Manned Submersible & Deep-Sea Research Vehicle Manufacturing (IMAJAOAD), Underwater Inspection, Maintenance & Repair (UWILD, Diving/ROV, In-water Cleaning) (IMAJAFAJ), Pollution Control & Environmental Remediation (Booming, Skimming, Shoreline Cleanup) (TLAHAIAH), Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM)
Keywords
Where IFREMER is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Issy-les-moulineaux
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
IFREMER business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Government Public Funding (Subventions publiques): IFREMER is an Établissement public à caractère industriel et commercial (EPIC) - a French public industrial and commercial establishment - primarily funded through French government ministry budgets and European research grants. Revenue comes from national public procurement, EU-funded research programs (e.g., Horizon Europe), and commissioned scientific assessments for government agencies.
- Public Procurement and Research Contracts: IFREMER generates revenue through public procurement contracts, including services to government ministries (environment, fisheries, maritime affairs), water agencies, and EU bodies. Purchases are conducted through the Plateforme des Achats de l'État (PLACE) in compliance with French public procurement law.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Publicly funded research and scientific services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
IFREMER product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IFREMER is a French public research institute (EPIC) that conducts marine scientific research, operates France's oceanographic fleet and the Nautile 6,000m submersible, and delivers scientific expertise, environmental monitoring, and fisheries assessments to government agencies, EU institutions, and the scientific community. Its offering centers on commissioned research, long-term monitoring datasets, deep-sea exploration, and open-access scientific publications and data platforms.
Product overview
Ifremer is France's only public research institute entirely dedicated to marine sciences, operating a comprehensive ecosystem of research infrastructure, vessels, submersibles, and data platforms. The core offering includes the French Oceanographic Fleet (Pourquoi pas ?, L'Atalante, Marion Dufresne, Anita Conti) and the Nautile submersible for deep-sea exploration, complemented by digital platforms: Archimer for scientific publications, Océanothèque for marine imagery, the Marine Data Portal, and the Fisheries Information System (SIH). Ifremer also operates seven COFRAC-accredited laboratories providing testing and calibration services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- French Oceanographic Fleet (Flotte océanographique française) A fleet of oceanographic research vessels operated by IFREMER, including Pourquoi pas ?, L'Atalante, Marion Dufresne, Thalia, L'Europe, and Anita Conti, providing mobile research platforms for ocean exploration, data collection, and scientific campaigns worldwide.
- Nautile Deep-Sea Submersible A manned scientific submersible capable of reaching 6,000m depth, operated by IFREMER and Genavir, used for deep-sea exploration, ecosystem survey, and archaeological missions. It is the only manned scientific submersible in Europe able to reach the deep ocean floor.
- Archimer Scientific Publications Repository IFREMER's open-access scientific publications repository providing access to research papers, technical reports, and datasets produced by the institute for the global scientific and policy community.
- Océanothèque Imagery Library A digital library of thousands of images and videos documenting marine life and ocean research expeditions, made available to the public, the media, and the scientific community.
- Marine Data Portal (Portail des données marines) IFREMER's marine data portal providing open access to all marine datasets collected by the institute's research infrastructure, monitoring networks, and expedition campaigns.
- Système d'Information Halieutique (SIH) IFREMER's national fisheries information system aggregating all French data on fish populations, supporting stock assessments and the scientific advice delivered to the European Commission and national authorities for TAC and quota decisions.
- Vidéos Sciences Marines IFREMER's video platform showcasing dives of underwater vehicles during scientific campaigns, including ROV Victor 6000 footage and expedition content for public and scientific audiences.
- COFRAC ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory Services Validated analytical and calibration services delivered through seven IFREMER laboratories accredited under ISO 17025 by Cofrac (the French accreditation body), covering environmental resources, sensors and measurement, marine microbiology, and invertebrate health.
Quantifiable outcome
- 58% of fish volumes landed in mainland France in 2023 came from sustainably fished (non-overfished) stocks, up from 52% in 2022 and 15% in 2000
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use IFREMER
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
IFREMER technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature7 records
IFREMER partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- CNRS (for OOSC/UNOC3)coreFor the One Ocean Science Congress (OOSC) - the scientific pillar of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, June 2025 - IFREMER and CNRS co-organized this international scientific conference bringing together 2,000 experts. IFREMER also hosted meetings aboard the Thalassa oceanographic vessel for policymakers and the scientific community.
- Indian Government (Parliament and Ministries)majorFrench Senate delegation including IFREMER visited India (April 10-15, 2025) to strengthen the India-France Strategic Partnership, reviewing blue economy and marine research cooperation under India's Deep Ocean Mission. Discussions included cooperation on ocean science and marine research between France and India.
- EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)coreIFREMER collaborates with EMBL on the TREC (Traversing European Coastlines) and BIOcean5D European research programs. EMBL conceived TREC with the Tara Ocean consortium and Foundation, in collaboration with EMBRC and 90+ scientific institutions. IFREMER contributes sediment core sampling and paleogenetic analysis as part of this large-scale European biodiversity research.
- Rhône Méditerranée Corse Water AgencycoreA pioneering 20+ year collaboration where IFREMER and the water agency jointly monitor chemical contamination along France's Mediterranean coast. The agency invests €2.3M/year in 40+ surveillance devices, with IFREMER providing scientific expertise and operational delivery. This is one of the most finely-monitored coastal areas for chemicals in Europe.
- WHOI (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)coreWHOI and IFREMER conducted the joint French-American expedition that discovered the RMS Titanic wreck in 1985. This historic collaboration demonstrated international scientific cooperation in deep-sea exploration and marine archaeology.
- GenavircoreGenavir is IFREMER's subsidiary responsible for operating the French oceanographic fleet, including the Nautile submersible. This is a core operational partnership for IFREMER's deep-sea exploration and oceanographic research capabilities.
- CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research)coreCNRS is a key research partner for IFREMER across multiple programs including the BIOcean5D project (jointly led by EMBL and CNRS), the OVIDE mission, joint research units (MARBEC), and various fisheries and marine biology research collaborations.
- Tara Ocean Foundation and ConsortiummajorIFREMER works with the Tara Ocean Foundation and consortium as part of the TREC European research program exploring European coastal biodiversity and adaptability across 115 sampling sites from Finland to Greece.
- EMBRC (European Marine Biological Resource Centre)majorIFREMER participates in EMBRC as part of the TREC European research program, contributing to marine biodiversity research infrastructure across European coastlines.
- IRD (Research Institute for Development)majorIFREMER works with IRD on international research including the OVIDE mission (coordinated by IFREMER with IRD support) studying ocean carbon storage in the North Atlantic, and on studies in New Caledonia examining nickel mining impacts on marine biodiversity.
- CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales)majorIFREMER collaborates with CNES, CEA, and IFPEN on its anti-corruption framework under France's Sapin 2 law, sharing methodologies and best practices for compliance across French public research institutions.
- CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)majorCEA collaborates with IFREMER on anti-corruption framework development under the Sapin 2 law, sharing methodologies and best practices across French public research institutions.
- IFPEN (IFP Energies nouvelles)majorIFPEN collaborates with IFREMER on anti-corruption framework development under the Sapin 2 law, sharing methodologies and best practices across French public research institutions.
- French Water Agencies (national network)coreIFREMER collaborates with multiple French water agencies (Artois-Picardie, Adour-Garonne, Loire-Bretagne, Rhône Méditerranée Corse, Seine-Normandie) for coastal monitoring under the EU Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive. These agencies co-fund and co-manage monitoring programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
IFREMER competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel: GEOMAR is Germany's primary marine research institute, operating research vessels, deep-sea ROVs, and integrated ocean observation programs comparable in scale and remit to IFREMER. Both institutions provide scientific advice to national/EU policy and operate 6,000m-capable submersible systems.
- National Oceanography Centre (NOC): The UK's National Oceanography Centre operates the RRS fleet and autonomous platforms for ocean research and provides scientific advice on marine policy. NOC is functionally analogous to IFREMER as a national-scale oceanographic institute with a fleet, deep-sea capability, and statutory advisory role.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI): MBARI is a privately-funded US institute specializing in deep-sea research using advanced ROVs and autonomous platforms. Its deep-sea technology development, long-term time-series programs, and Monterey observatories make it a strong functional analog to IFREMER's deep-sea and autonomous-vehicle research.
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): WHOI is the closest international counterpart to IFREMER: a leading privately-operated oceanographic research institution operating its own fleet, deep-sea vehicles (Alvin submersible), and long-term monitoring programs. The two have a direct historical collaboration (1985 Titanic discovery) and serve similar scientific and policy communities.
- Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI): AWI is Germany's Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, operating the RV Polarstern and a network of long-term ocean observatories. It is highly comparable to IFREMER in scale, federal funding structure, and integration of marine science with environmental policy advisory functions.
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC): JAMSTEC operates the Shinkai 6500 submersible (6,000m class) and a deep-sea research fleet comparable to IFREMER's Nautile and French Oceanographic Fleet. Both are national flagship institutes combining deep-sea exploration, ocean observation, and earth-system science.
- Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, CSIC): The IEO is Spain's national oceanographic research institute, operating research vessels and providing fisheries stock assessments and coastal monitoring under EU frameworks. Its mandate (fisheries advice, MSFD reporting, aquaculture research) closely mirrors IFREMER's core responsibilities.
Broad incumbents
- NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): NOAA is the US federal agency for ocean and atmospheric science, operating research fleets, fisheries management science, and coastal monitoring at much greater scale and breadth than IFREMER. NOAA encompasses what IFREMER does as one portion of a far wider portfolio.
- CSIRO (Marine and Atmospheric Research): CSIRO is Australia's national science agency with a significant marine and atmospheric research division operating research vessels and ocean observation networks. Its broader portfolio across multiple scientific domains makes it a broad incumbent analogous to a scaled-up IFREMER embedded in a multi-disciplinary agency.
Regional players
- PLOCAN (Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias): PLOCAN is a Spanish ocean observing infrastructure consortium operating a fixed offshore testbed in the Canary Islands. It is regionally scoped (Macaronesia/Eastern Atlantic) and smaller in scale, but shares IFREMER's mandate for marine observation infrastructure, autonomous platform testing, and data services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IFREMER social profiles
Digital presenceIFREMER compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
IFREMER financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IFREMER leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
IFREMER subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
IFREMER funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IFREMER M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IFREMER
What does IFREMER do?
IFREMER is a French public research institute (EPIC) that conducts marine scientific research, operates France's oceanographic fleet and the Nautile 6,000m submersible, and delivers scientific expertise, environmental monitoring, and fisheries assessments to government agencies, EU institutions, and the scientific community. Its offering centers on commissioned research, long-term monitoring datasets, deep-sea exploration, and open-access scientific publications and data platforms.
Is IFREMER a public or private company?
IFREMER is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was IFREMER founded?
IFREMER was founded in 1984. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is IFREMER based?
IFREMER is headquartered in Issy-les-moulineaux, France, in the Europe region.
How does IFREMER make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Public Funding (Subventions publiques) is the primary driver. The others are public Procurement and Research Contracts.
Who are IFREMER's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, CSIC). Broad incumbents are NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and CSIRO (Marine and Atmospheric Research). PLOCAN (Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias) is listed as a regional player.
Does IFREMER have an API?
No public API is recorded for IFREMER.
What industry is IFREMER in?
IFREMER's product category is Marine science research services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAMAI, Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines), with a secondary code of BPADALAI, Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management. Its NAICS code is 541620 and its SIC code is 8731.