Proteus was initiated in 2003 as a unique collaboration to provide companies with the biodiversity information needed for better informed decisions, and to support the development, improvement and dissemination of global biodiversity data and information. From five founding member companies in 2003, Proteus helped 19 companies with the implementation of their biodiversity strategies over the past 16 years. Each company provides annual funding to a work programme determined jointly with UNEP-WCMC to support biodiversity data and information development.