The Forecasting and Observing the Open-to-Coastal Ocean for Copernicus Users (FOCCUS) project commenced in January, 2024. In the first twelve months of the project, the first phase began with a focus on management tasks in WP1 such as establishing the project’s shared data platform, regular meetings and coordination, and the Data Management Plan, as well as communication and dissemination activities in WP10 such as the project branding, logo, website, video, social media, and the Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation Plan. Scientific work began in WPs 2, 4, 6, and 8, with observational and hydrological data improvements using novel techniques, along with planning integration into Member State Coastal Systems (MSCSs) and the design of coastal applications and integration into CMEMS. In total, the first twelve months of the project included the submission of eight Deliverables, the completion of eleven Milestones.