Smart Ocean – Smart Industries
(SO-SI)

Scaling global ocean, weather, and climate data through industry-led collaboration.

Smart Ocean – Smart Industries (SO-SI)

Scaling global ocean, weather, and climate data through industry-led collaboration.

INTRODUCTION

The World Ocean Council (WOC) leads the Smart Ocean – Smart Industries (SO-SI) Programme to advance ocean data collection, sharing, and use as a foundation for safe operations, scientific understanding, and climate resilience.

SO-SI provides a neutral, trusted platform where ocean industries, scientific institutions, governments, and technology providers collaborate to expand global ocean observation – by leveraging vessels and water-based infrastructure already operating worldwide.

INTRODUCTION

Why is SO-SI needed?

Reliable and timely ocean, weather, and climate data are essential for maritime safety, operational decision-making, ocean and climate science, and coastal and marine resilience planning.

Despite growing demand, large areas of the ocean – particularly in the southern hemisphere and remote regions – remain under-sampled. At the same time, thousands of commercial and operational vessels traverse these areas every day.

SO-SI addresses this gap by enabling existing ocean users to support data collection in a practical, cost-effective way – without the need to deploy new fleets or infrastructure.

WOC’s role in SO-SI

WOC’s role in SO-SI is one of convening, coordination, and enablement, rather than technology promotion.

The World Ocean Council:

Provides a neutral platform for collaboration between industry, science, policy, and innovation actors
Helps identify priority data needs and suitable technologies
Supports responsible deployment approaches aligned with scientific and international frameworks
Facilitates partnerships that reduce fragmentation and duplication

Through SO-SI, WOC works to ensure that data collected through industry participation contributes meaningfully to public, scientific, and policy-relevant databases.

What does SO-SI do?

SO-SI focuses on three core objectives:

Collect ocean data efficiently
Make data publicly available
Connect public and private collaborators

The programme connects vessels, platforms, and water-based infrastructure with scientific programmes and institutions seeking data-supporting parameters such as weather, surface currents, sea surface temperature, salinity, bathymetry, and other ocean variables.

How SO-SI works

SO-SI enables participating vessels and water-based infrastructure – including ships, platforms, and fixed installations – to host or deploy monitoring instruments such as sensors, drifters, or floats. Data are collected autonomously and transmitted to relevant scientific or operational data systems. Participation is designed to be low-friction. In many cases, involvement requires minimal time, equipment, or financial commitment, and may be achievable at low or no cost to host entities. Safety, operational integrity, and responsible deployment are prioritised.

Who SO-SI is for

Ocean industries and operators:
SO-SI supports companies seeking to enhance safety, operational resilience, and sustainability across sectors such as shipping, offshore energy, aquaculture, fisheries, cruise, and maritime services.

Technology developers and start-ups:
SO-SI offers opportunities for real-world testing and validation of ocean monitoring technologies, supporting iteration, learning, and market readiness.

Research institutions and governments:
SO-SI expands access to real-time and in-situ ocean data, strengthening scientific research, modelling, forecasting, and evidence-based policymaking.

KEY ACTIVITIES

Global convening through workshops, webinars, and sessions at WOC events such as the Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS)
Industry coordination to expand participation across sectors and geographies
Matching data needs and capabilities between data users, technology providers, and host platforms
Regional initiatives addressing local data priorities
Pilot projects focused on specific needs such as ocean pH, microplastics, or extreme weather monitoring
Data-sharing alignment with international scientific and policy frameworks

SELECTED ENGAGEMENTS AND CONVENINGS

SO-SI has contributed to dialogue and collaboration through initiatives such as the WOC Seabed 2030 Webinar Series, UN Ocean Decade-related events, and SO-SI sessions and workshops at WOC Sustainable Ocean Summits.

CURRENT COLLABORATION: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AT SEA

The World Ocean Council collaborates with Ponant Explorations Group on a dedicated initiative enabling scientists to conduct research aboard selected expedition vessels operating in remote and under-studied regions.

Building on the Ponant Science Programme, this collaboration supports environmental, ecological, and socio-cultural research while fostering cross-sector collaboration between science and ocean industries.