Created on June 5, 1984, Ifremer is the national research institute dedicated to marine sciences. It relies on its research, observation, monitoring and experimental infrastructures to produce scientific knowledge and know-how on the marine environment, particularly in response to societal issues.
As a public industrial and commercial establishment (EPIC), Ifremer is placed under the joint supervision of the minister in charge of research, the minister in charge of the fisheries and the minister in charge of the environment.
Through a systemic approach, Ifremer participates in the observation of the marine environment at all scales and the understanding of ecosystems, the processes that govern them and the services they offer, in a context of global change.
To this end, it designs and implements marine research and monitoring infrastructures, observation, experimentation and monitoring tools, and manages marine databases. It operates the French oceanographic fleet for the benefit of the entire scientific community.
An international, national and regional strategy
Ifremer contributes to the national and European strategy of research and innovation, by producing fundamental knowledge, by more finalised results in response to questions raised by society and by technological innovations in support of the economic development of the maritime world.
The institute has close links with local authorities, and particularly with the Bretagne region. In the current State-Region Contract Agreement (CPER), Ifremer is concerned:
- for the field of ocean observation, by contributing to the international Argo floats program and hosting the ERIC Euro-Argo research infrastructure;
- in the field of coastal environment, by contributing to the development of new networks, regional variation of the ILICO research infrastructure;
- for digital infrastructures, by financing a set of computer tools dedicated to high-volume marine data and modeling;
- concerning hydrodynamics, by the evolution of the Ifremer Brest test basin, of a unique depth in Europe (20 m).
Bretagne also contributes to Ifremer’s activities via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with the recent example of the renovation of the Thalassa vessel finalised in September 2017 or the acquisition of the seismic equipment needed by the oceanographic fleet.
In addition, with the financial support of the Regional Council of Bretagne and two local authorities of Finistère, in application of a decision of the State, Ifremer has entered a phase of transfer from its head office from Paris to Brest. Ifremer in Bretagne is home to more than 50% of the Institute’s workforce, mainly in the Brest center, as well as in several coastal resorts between Ille-et-Vilaine and Morbihan.
