ATCC is a private nonprofit organization in the life sciences field whose mission focuses on the acquisition, authentication, production, preservation, development and distribution of standard reference microorganisms, cell lines and other materials for research and development. Established in 1925 as the American Type Culture Collection by scientists and incorporated in 1947 to serve as a worldwide repository and distribution center for cultures of microorganisms, ATCC has developed into the global leader in research and development expertise for identifying, characterizing, preserving and distributing a wide range of cell lines and microbes. Aside from maintaining the biological resources, an R&D program and product development teams, ATCC also competes for federal grants and contracts and engages in partnerships and collaborations with academic institutions and private companies.