Copernicus is the European programme for Earth observation and monitoring (formerly known as GMES/Global Monitoring for Environment and Security). This project aims:

• to give the European Union an autonomous and operational ability in space observation infrastructures (Sentinel missions) and in situ infrastructures (measurements in the atmosphere, on and in the ocean and on the ground),
• to operate six environmental monitoring services related to oceans, the atmosphere, territories, emergency situations, security and climate change.

With the support of national players (CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Météo-France, SHOM), the company Mercator-Océan coordinates the marine part of this programme (Copernicus Marine Service). Ifremer coordinates the in situ measurement part (Copernicus INsitu TAC – INSTAC) of Copernicus Marine Service and provides its global component through the Coriolis data centre.

Ifremer and its partners (responsible for different geographical zones) provide an "in situ marine data" service, which provides unrestricted and cost-free access to scientifically-qualified and regular information on the physical and biogeochemical state of the oceans, at the surface and at depth: temperature, currents, salinity, sea surface height, sea ice, water colour, chlorophyll, etc.

At Ifremer, the IMN department and the IDM unit coordinate this service with the particular support of the Information Systems Engineering (ISI) services (system development and its maintenance in operational condition) and SISMER (operations). IMN and IDM build on a long track record of experience acquired through the implementation of the Coriolis operational oceanographic data centre and through various MyOcean projects.