The Millennium Project is an independent international think tank

Think tank

A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...

 with 40 "nodes" around the world that gathers and accesses information on futures studies

Futurology

Futures studies is the study of postulating possible, probable, and preferable futures and the worldviews and myths that underlie them. There is a debate as to whether this discipline is an art or science. In general, it can be considered as a branch under the more general scope of the field of...

 that produces the annual State of the Future

State of the Future

The State of the Future is an annual report published since 1996. Since 2009 it was published by The Millennium Project. It was published by the American Council of the United Nations University from 1997 to 2006 and in 2007 and 2008 under the auspices of the World Federation of United Nations...

 report since 1997 and the Futures Research Methodology series Versions 1-3.

The Project was formed by the Futures Group International, , the Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...

 via a three year feasibility study

Feasibility study

Feasibility studies aim to objectively and rationally uncover the strengths and weaknesses of the existing business or proposed venture, opportunities and threats as presented by the environment, the resources required to carry through, and ultimately the prospects for success. In its simplest...

 in 1992 funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency

United States Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...

, United Nations Development Programme

United Nations Development Programme

The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...

, and UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

. Since the beginning of operations in 1996, about 2,700 futurists, scholars, decision-makers, and business planners from over 50 countries have contributed with their views to the Millennium Project research.

The Project now has nodes in 38 countries and 2 others are global/functional nodes: Cyber Node and the Arts/Media Node. These are independent organizations (composed of both organizations and individuals from different institutional categories - government, corporations, NGOs, universities, individuals, and UN or international organizations - which acts like a transinstitution) which co-operate with each other and the Project to provide an international perspective on futures research.