In 1995, the team at Technical Innovation Center approached Genrikh Altshuller about creating a non-for-profit institution to promote TRIZ outside of Russia. Genrikh Altshuller gave his blessing for the idea and members of the TRIZ community went about realizing this initiative. In the fall of 1998, with the enthusiastic support of TRIZ users around the world, the Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies was established. The Institute has continued to develop, serving the needs of a growing TRIZ community.