Although the Arctic Ocean has been studied extensively during recent decades, observational data are still relatively sparse due to its remoteness and harsh environmental conditions. One important tool to fill this gap has become more and more feasible during the last years: autonomous, ice-based observation platforms, which are able to record data throughout the winter, and to extend the investigation area of manned expeditions. Over the following five years, the FRAM (FRontiers in Arctic marine Monitoring) infrastructure project aims to establish a network of autonomous, ice-based observatories (buoys) in the central Arctic Ocean. Types of buoys range from snow-depth and ice mass-balance buoys for monitoring ice growth and snow accumulation, over radiation and weather stations for energy budget estimations, to ice-tethered profilers to monitor upper ocean properties. The first wave of 32 buoys was deployed in September 2015 from onboard RV Polarstern. Data from these buoys are expected to play a crucial role in understanding the linkages between the atmosphere, sea ice and upper ocean in the Arctic. Integration of bio-optical and biogeochemical sensors on established platforms will enhance our understanding of physico-biological processes, and enable us to derive reliable models of the physical, biological and biogeochemical states of the future Arctic Ocean.