The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO-PAN) was founded in 1983 as the successor to the Marine Station of the Academy in existence in Sopot since 1953.
The Institute mission is to generate the knowledge to support the sustainable use and protection of the marine environment through innovative, high-level scientific and technological research that significantly adds to the knowledge and understanding of the environment, and provides information and technology for its clients.
The Institute's clients are Polish and international users of marine science and technology, the Polish community, governmental agencies, policy makers, educators and students. The Institute of Oceanology conducts scientific research in the shelf seas and coastal regions including the Baltic and European Arctic Seas.