(i) Foster innovation and excellence by engaging with relevant IOC communities in a joint and coordinated effort towards producing, regularly reviewing and sustaining relevant best practices and standards;

(ii) Increase efficiency, reproducibility and interoperability of the value chain of IOC by providing the community with a unified, sustained and readily accessible interdisciplinary knowledge base of adopted methodologies and best practices;

(iii) Maintain and advance the OBPS Repository as a universal and accessible platform for IOC-relevant ocean related best practices and standards.

(i) Propose the vision, strategy, biannual workplan and associated budget for consideration by Member States;

(ii) Advise on technical, operational and user aspects;

(iii) Report on progress against the biannual workplan, as part of overall IOC reporting to the IOC Assembly, and to other components of IOC and partners as relevant;

(iv) Provide advice to the OBPS Manager as relevant;

(v) Assist in identifying extra-budgetary funding sources to further develop the OBPS;

(vi) Advocate for the OBPS as a preferred resource for adopted methodologies and best practices within the IOC mandate;

(i) Representatives from IOC programmes and regional sub-commissions;

(ii) OBPS Manager;

(iii) IODE IT Manager;(iv) OBPS Co-Chairs;

(v) Invited Experts, through circular letter to Member States;

(vi) Representatives of partner organizations, projects or programmes as relevant;

(vii) Representatives of the IOC Secretariat.
The Steering Group will meet annually and will elect its (Co-) Chair(s) for a period of two years, preferably from amongst its members, renewable once.