Governance

OHIS coordinates five inter-institutional systems dedicated to the observation of the open ocean. Its governance serves as an effective and essential mechanism for defining and implementing scientific orientations in direct alignment with major strategic challenges in the marine domain and the priorities set by supervisory authorities.
It enables the optimization of resources deployed for offshore in situ measurement campaigns, ensures coherent structuring of the economic model for open-ocean observation, and establishes clear priorities for financial and human resources. It also fosters strong synergies between the various observation systems—ensuring, in particular, consistency in the mobilization of means with an integrated scientific vision, prioritization of technological and instrumental innovations, and effective valorization of the data produced.

The proposed governance for the OHIS Research Infrastructure candidate, aligned with other governance models in the domain, features a simple and robust decision-making structure, complemented by two advisory bodies. The overall governance is illustrated in the diagram below (in French):

 

 

 

 

The decision-making body is the Supervisory Board ('Comité des Tutelles' in French):

 

Composition	A representative from each supervisory authority that has signed the inter-institutional agreement, plus invited members without voting rights (notably the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research). The meeting secretary is provided by the Management.
Meeting frequency	Twice a year, with the possibility of exceptional meetings if necessary
Main tasks	Ensure the RI's policy aligns with the expectations of the various supervisory authorities, particularly by setting the orientations and overall objectives of the RI Define strategic choices in terms of scientific and industrial policy (partnerships, cooperation, etc.) Approve the allocation of resources Appoint the Management Team Make decisions on issues raised by the co-directors of the RI, if necessary Facilitate the resolution of difficulties raised by any of the supervisory authorities regarding the establishment and execution of the OHIS agreement

 

 

The executive body is the Management Team:

 

Composition	Two co-directors from the two main supervisory authorities (Sabrina Speich from CNRS and Pascale Lherminier from Ifremer), with a renewable mandate lasting 4 years A head of administration and management   Two project managers will also be part of the Management Team: Lucie Cocquempot (Ifremer), responsible for relations with Fr-OOS and European bodies, and a project manager in charge of institutional relations and connections with the Specialized Ocean-Atmosphere Commission (CSOA in French, a specific evaluation body of the CNRS-INSU).
Meeting frequency	At least once a week, and as often as needed
Main tasks	Propose to the Supervisory Board and implement the scientific and technical strategy of the OHIS IR. Prepare an annual roadmap to be submitted for approval by the Supervisory Board and report on its implementation. Coordinate the management of shared resources within the OHIS RI. Lead the governance bodies of the OHIS RI (organization and reporting of meetings). Represent the OHIS RI within other national bodies, including the Fr-OOS, as well as European and international organizations dealing with issues related to the OHIS RI's areas of expertise. Oversee institutional and public communication about the OHIS RI.

 

 

The operational body is the Observation Services Committee ('Comité des Services d'Observation' in French):

 

Composition	The heads of the observation systems (both existing and emerging), and it will be chaired by the two co-directors of the RI. Invited members according to the meeting agenda.
Meeting frequency	Four times a year and as needed, at the initiative of any member of this committee.
Main tasks	Define and implement cross-cutting or shared activities (working groups) between several observation services, for example, in terms of sharing new parameters studied, data quality, the development of tools and methods, and the optimization of resources (see paragraph 2d); Engage the Management on issues concerning the observation activities of the OHIS RI and the need for additional funding beyond their allocated observation service budgets; Participate in the preparation of the OHIS RI budget in coordination with the Management; Propose developments for the OHIS RI in relation to the Users' Committee ('Comité des Utilisateurs' in French).

 

One of the added values of the candidate RI OHIS lies in its ability to set priorities for the needs of the observation services, both financial and human resources (HR), in relation to strategic directions defined by its supervisory bodies. This arbitration will concern the requests submitted annually to the supervisory bodies and the allocation of resources obtained through calls for tenders (national or European).

 

The scientific and technical programming, which will set the main strategic directions of OHIS, will be prepared by the Management Team and proposed to the Committee of Supervisory Bodies ('Comité des Tutelles' in French), which will approve or reject the evolution plans after consultation with the Scientific Council. The Scientific Council, in its recommandations, must propose scientific priorities, monitor technological developments, and support the alignment of activities with national and international challenges in offshore observation.

During the programming definition, the Management Team will regularly engage with the Fr-OOS, which has coordinated in situ ocean observations in France since 2022 for research, climate monitoring, environmental surveillance, and operational oceanography; and which is tasked with organizing the interfaces between its components (RIs, RI projects, national networks) and aligning/simplifying governance bodies.

The scientific evaluation of OHIS activities will be carried out by the Scientific Council ('Conseil Scientifique' in French), through regular reviews to ensure the relevance, quality, and impact of the observations. It will consist of internationally recognized scientific personalities already pre-identified; the exact composition will be finalized after labeling. The Scientific Council will meet once a year with the Direction, and more frequently if necessary, based on Committee of Supervisory Bodies decisions, to deliberate on topics identified by the Committee of Supervisory Bodies and the Management Team. Opinions will be submitted in writing and communicated to the Committee of Supervisory Bodies. The Scientific Council may propose specific areas of work to the Working Groups ('Groupes de Travail' in French), and will review deliverables produced by them.

The technical evaluation will be conducted by the Committee of Users ('Comité des Utilisateurs' in French'), which is responsible for ensuring the continuous evolution of the systems enabling the production of reference data, according to scientific needs identified by and for the user community. The CU will (i) intervene in defining products and services, (ii) provide recommendations and technical specifications to the Management Team and the Observation Services Committee, and (iii) recommend specific areas of work for the WGs. It will meet once a year, and more frequently if necessary, based on the Management Team's decision. The CU will primarily consist of representatives from entities directly interfacing with OHIS (Météo France, Mercator, OceanOPS/GOOS, FOF, ICOS, ODATIS, CNES), but may eventually be expanded to include stakeholders from the economic sector or Stakeholder Committees of organizations, as they become involved in the acquisition or use of data.

 

Operational Model

Due to the difficulty of accessing the environment, the importance of the resources mobilized at sea, the technicality of the sensors used, and sometimes the complexity of the platforms employed, offshore in situ observation has always required joint operations and involvement from multiple actors and communities. A major asset of OHIS is its ability to rely on the expertise of its components, which are constituted into observation systems that were often largely pre-existing to OHIS.

In this landscape with multiple actors, the candidate RI OHIS federates, integrates, and rationalizes strategic offshore operations for acquiring multidisciplinary reference data, essential for studying fundamental oceanic processes at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Its scientific and operational added value lies in its ability to effectively structure these observations around current major scientific questions (variability and climate change, ocean-atmosphere interactions, biogeochemical cycles, marine biodiversity), guarantee the sustainability and adaptability of observation systems in the face of global changes, ensure optimal data quality in the long term, and significantly increase their visibility and use within a solid, structured, and evolving collaborative framework for the entire scientific and operational community.

The operational model of OHIS – represented in the general diagram below (in French) – is based on a continuous, regular, and structured scientific dialogue between the Management Team ('Direction'), the Committee of Observation Services ('Comité des Services d'Observation'), the Working Groups (GTs), and the partner entities:

 

 

 

 

This collaborative approach, fueled by the analyses of the Committee of Observation Services and the recommendations of the consultative bodies, enables OHIS to:

 

(i) the articulation of sectoral systems around an integrated vision

• Develop and strengthen scientific synergies between existing offshore observation services and other complementary infrastructures (French Oceanographic Fleet, Euro-Argo, Groupe de Mission Mercator-Coriolis), notably through active coordination in the scientific and operational planning of autonomous sensor deployments (Argo floats, instrumented moorings).
• Establish a coherent and integrated scientific strategy, by collectively prioritizing and pooling the needs expressed by its components, thereby ensuring optimal use of available resources.
• Ensure unified scientific representation within the Fr-OOS, as well as with the multiple national, European, and international bodies interfacing with OHIS, thereby enhancing the visibility and influence of the associated scientific community.

 

(ii) the stimulation of instrumental innovation

• Optimize the technical monitoring, metrology, and scientific validation of observation systems (maintenance, calibration, sensor and platform intercomparison), by pooling available resources and expertise.
• Address integrated and collective major cross-cutting and strategic issues (ecological footprint of observations, artificial intelligence, optimization of the observation network) via dedicated Working Groups, ensuring systematic consideration of emerging challenges and methodological innovations.

 

(iii) complementarity between approaches and disciplines

• Structure and streamline the management of scientific data, by preparing and harmonizing data and metadata according to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), in close connection with ODATIS (Marine Hub of the French national Data Terra data infrastructure).
• Significantly broaden the base of scientific and operational users, by making produced data more accessible, and stimulating broad, interdisciplinary, and innovative use of observations.
• Support cutting-edge scientific research and facilitate access to new funding through the regular organization of targeted internal calls for projects.

 

This operational model thus significantly strengthens OHIS’s positioning as an integrative, harmonizing infrastructure that catalyzes ambitious and structured scientific research on offshore oceans.

  

Working Groups modalities

The Working Groups (WGs) linked to the annual roadmap of the RI will be set up upon proposal by the Committee of Observation Services or the Scientific Council, submitted for validation by the Committee of Supervisory Bodies, and will be led either by members of the Committee of Observation Services or by experts from the relevant observation services designated by the Committee of Observation Services. The evaluation of the activities of the WG will be carried out by the Committee of Observation Services and the Committee of Users.

Each WG will have a duration of one year, renewable, and will have a broadly open restitution seminar and a deliverable, reviewed by the Scientific Council and then validated by the Committee of Supervisory Bodies, and disseminated under a CC-by-SA or CC-by-SA-ND license. The RI's operational budget will cover the associated costs and provide the necessary means for the successful completion of the work.

At the time of OHIS’s candidacy for the 2026 RI Roadmap, several WGs are planned, with different deadlines:

• The first WG on CO2/pH will be set up promptly, directly from the existing Marine CO2/pH Scientific Expertise Consortium under ODATIS. Its objectives will remain the same as currently: to work on harmonizing measurement and qualification techniques and to gather data from the marine carbonates system to improve data visibility and transmission.
• A second WG planned in the short term will be dedicated to metrology issues: it will allow for reflection on common methodologies where possible (notably through expanded intercomparison exercises based on those already in place on a smaller scale), and the pooling of resources at the RI level.