Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System

What Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System does

The Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS) is a Canadian non-profit national initiative established in 2019 that operates as the country's integrated hub for ocean data. CIOOS provides an open-access platform delivering observational and model data with standardized metadata through three national tools: a Data Catalogue (built on CKAN), a Data Explorer with interactive mapping, and a Catalogue Map for geographic visualization. The infrastructure is supported by ERDDAP servers, regional catalogues for each of the three Regional Associations (CIOOS Pacific in Victoria, St. Lawrence Global Observatory in Quebec City, CIOOS Atlantic in Halifax), and bilingual resources including a Data Management Guide that codifies FAIR and CARE principles. Technical operations are delivered through a Coordination Office hosted by MEOPAR, plus distributed technical staff across the three regions, with open-source integration into Local Contexts for Indigenous data sovereignty. CIOOS is primarily funded by recurring grants from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and MEOPAR, supplemented by a $1M Digital Research Alliance grant for a 2026-2028 National Data Spaces Pilot. The service is free to data consumers; revenue is grant-based, with no commercial sales motion. Customers in the funder sense are limited to a small number of government and research-network entities, while downstream users include academic researchers, federal and provincial government agencies, ocean industries (shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, energy), NGOs, and Indigenous and coastal communities. CIOOS operates a community-led, event-driven go-to-market model anchored by workshops, training programs such as the PRODIGY Field School, the Ocean AI Community of Practice, and recurring international AI workshops. The organization holds formal recognition as a Regional Alliance of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), positioning it within the international coordinated ocean observing architecture.

Name

Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System

Legal name

Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System

Website

https://cioos.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS) is a Canadian non-profit that operates a national open-access ocean data platform, serving researchers, government agencies, ocean industries, Indigenous communities, and NGOs across Canada through three Regional Associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Data Infrastructure

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Information (51)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs) (EUAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Data Integration, ETL & Interoperability (APIs, Standards, Data Pipelines) (EUAHAKAB), Climate & Emissions Data Management (Data Lake, Integration, APIs) (EUABAEAC)

Keywords

• Ocean data platform
• Marine observation data
• Oceanographic data catalogue
• Coastal monitoring systems
• Ocean science infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): Primary funder providing ongoing support for CIOOS operations, regional associations, and national coordination. DFO and MEOPAR co-fund the CIOOS Coordination Office.
2. Government Funding - MEOPAR: Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network hosts the CIOOS Coordination Office and provides major funding. MEOPAR has sponsored CIOOS since its inception.
3. Digital Research Alliance of Canada Grant: Awarded $1M over 2 years (2026-2028) for the National Data Spaces Pilot Program to advance Canada's ocean data space maturity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CIOOS is a national non-profit hub that integrates and disseminates Canadian ocean observational and model data through a federated open-access platform, providing a centralized Data Catalogue, Data Explorer, Catalogue Map, PhytoFit, ERDDAP servers, and a Data Management Guide, coordinated by three regional associations (CIOOS Pacific, St. Lawrence Global Observatory, and CIOOS Atlantic). The platform enables researchers, government agencies, ocean industries, and Indigenous communities to access standardized oceanographic data for science, policy, and decision-making.

Product overview

CIOOS is a national integrated ocean observing system that provides a unified platform for ocean data in Canada. The core offering consists of three national data tools: the Data Catalogue (for discovering and downloading partner ocean data), the Data Explorer (interactive mapping for analysis), and the Catalogue Map (geographic visualization). These are complemented by regional catalogue platforms for CIOOS Atlantic, CIOOS Pacific, and the St. Lawrence Global Observatory, plus specialized tools like PhytoFit and ERDDAP servers. Supporting resources include a bilingual Data Management Guide, ERDDAP training materials, and major initiatives such as the Understanding and Predicting the Ocean Using AI Workshop series and the National Data Spaces Pilot program. The system operates through three regional associations coordinated by a national Coordination Office, serving researchers, policymakers, industry, and Indigenous communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Data Catalogue

Quantifiable outcome

• 137 participants from 65 organizations attended the 2025 Understanding and Predicting the Ocean Using AI workshop, demonstrating community engagement.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and national.

• Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CIOOS recognized as a Regional Alliance of GOOS in 2023. This international network promotes coordinated, sustained ocean observing worldwide. CIOOS contributes to GOOS initiatives and international standards development.
• CIOOS PacificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Association integrating data from Canada's west coast (Dixon Entrance to Strait of Juan de Fuca). Led by Jordan Watson as Executive Director. Hosts the CIOOS Pacific Data Catalogue and provides regional data tools and training.
• St. Lawrence Global Observatory (SLGO/OGSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Association integrating data from the St. Lawrence (Great Lakes to Gulf). Led by Mathilde Couturier as Scientific Director. Hosts data tools including Navigation, Marine Conditions, and SLGO Data Catalogue.
• CIOOS AtlanticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Association integrating data from Canada's east coast (Labrador to Bay of Fundy). Led by Shayla Fitzsimmons as Executive Director. Hosts ERDDAP server, PhytoFit tool, and CIOOS Atlantic Data Catalogue.
• Amundsen ScienceregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIOOS collaborates with Amundsen Science, which operates its own catalogue built on the CIOOS framework to ensure interoperability and discoverability in the ocean data space.
• DataStreamregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIOOS collaborates with DataStream by harvesting datastream metadata and enabling discovery via the CIOOS Catalogue. Reflects the role of freshwater systems in shaping coastal and ocean environments.
• Ocean Networks CanadanationalTechnology or IntegrationNational partner providing ocean observing infrastructure and data. Collaborated with CIOOS Pacific on PRODIGY Field School data access workshops using API calls to remote sensors.
• Bamfield Marine Science CentreregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for PRODIGY Field School where CIOOS Pacific delivered data access and management training workshops for international cohort of graduate students.
• University of British ColumbiaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pacific Rim Ocean Data and Technology (PRODIGY) program. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from UBC participated in CIOOS Pacific training workshops.
• Borealis Data RepositoryregionalTechnology or IntegrationPartner in PRODIGY Field School contributing to data management training curriculum and resources.
• Ocean Tracking NetworknationalTechnology or IntegrationNational partner in ocean data sharing and tracking initiatives. Jonathan Pye, Director of Data Operations at OTN, serves on the CIOOS Data Management Committee.
• Ocean Frontier InstitutenationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner supporting ocean research and observation in Canada.
• Dalhousie UniversitynationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Centre for Earth Observation Science and related ocean research initiatives. Yanique Campbell, Data Curator from CEO Sciences, serves on the CIOOS Advisory Committee.
• Marine InstituteregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner in Atlantic Canada. Richard Kelly worked at the Marine Institute for 15 years before joining CIOOS as Full Stack Developer. Memorial University (parent institution) is also listed as partner.
• Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIOOS is actively engaging with potential partner organizations including GLOS in the Great Lakes region with intent to add Regional Associations there.
• COIN AtlanticregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner in Atlantic Canada focused on coastal and ocean information.
• Hakai InstituteregionalTechnology or IntegrationRegional partner providing ocean observational data. Jessy Barrette, CIOOS DevOps specialist, previously worked with ASL Environmental Sciences and the Hakai Institute on oceanographic instrumentation and data management.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet): The European Union's integrated marine data portal aggregating observations across multiple regional lots with standardized metadata and free access. Highly comparable in mandate (federated marine data discovery), FAIR-style interoperability, and reliance on public funding.
• Australian Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS): Australia's national ocean observing system operating as a federated network of regional nodes with open data access. Comparable to CIOOS in federated governance, open-access philosophy, and government-funded infrastructure model, though serving a different geography.
• U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS): The U.S. national ocean observing program coordinated by NOAA, with 11 Regional Associations and a federal backbone. Directly comparable to CIOOS in mission, federated regional structure, and role as the GOOS Regional Alliance counterpart for the United States. CIOOS's Advisory Committee includes the Branch Chief of U.S. IOOS.
• Argos (international Argo Program): A global array of profiling floats providing ocean temperature and salinity data, formally contributing to GOOS. Comparable as a large-scale, publicly funded, GOOS-aligned ocean observing program that CIOOS interfaces with through international ocean data standards.

Others

• Ocean Networks Canada: A University of Victoria-led operator of cabled ocean observatories (NEPTUNE, VENUS) and major source of ocean data integrated by CIOOS. Not a direct competitor but a key data-providing peer and national partner; the CITO of Ocean Networks Canada sits on the CIOOS Advisory Committee.
• MEOPAR (Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network): A Canadian Network of Centres of Excellence that hosts the CIOOS Coordination Office and is CIOOS's principal co-funder alongside DFO. Comparable in marine observing mandate but functions as CIOOS's institutional home and primary funder rather than a competitor.
• DataStream: An open-access freshwater monitoring data platform whose metadata CIOOS harvests to enable cross-domain discovery. Operates adjacent to CIOOS in mission (open environmental data, FAIR principles) and is integrated via CIOOS's catalogue rather than competing with it.

Regional players

• Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS): A Regional Association within U.S. IOOS focused on the Great Lakes, providing real-time observing data and decision-support tools. CIOOS is actively engaging GLOS as a partner for potential Canadian Great Lakes regional expansion, making it both a geographic peer and an integration target.

Direct peers

• Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS): A Regional Association within U.S. IOOS covering Pacific islands, operating data catalogues, ERDDAP servers, and visualization tools similar to CIOOS's regional stack. Jordan Watson, current CIOOS Pacific Director, was PacIOOS Deputy Director, underscoring operational and architectural comparability.

Emerging players

• Allen Coral Atlas: An emerging global coral reef monitoring platform combining satellite imagery and AI for ecosystem mapping. Comparable to CIOOS in applying AI to environmental/ocean data, FAIR-aligned open access, and reliance on international partnerships, though narrower in geographic and thematic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cioosatlantic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cioosatlantic
• Facebookfacebook.com/cioos.siooc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System