IFREMER

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

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

• Oceanographic research
• Marine science
• Fisheries assessment
• Deep-sea exploration
• Coastal monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Issy-les-moulineaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• CNRS (for OOSC/UNOC3)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2025For 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)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2025French 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023IFREMER 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 AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990A 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 1985WHOI 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.
• GenavircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenavir 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS 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 ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFREMER 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFREMER 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFREMER 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFREMER 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEA 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFPEN 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFREMER 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ifremer_fr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ifremertv
• Facebookfacebook.com/ifremer.fr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ifremer
• Instagraminstagram.com/ifremer_officiel

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IFREMER