The National Animal Collection Resource Center (NACRC) is a key component of China's National Scientific and Technology Infrastructure (NSTI), formally designated in 2019 by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance. Affiliated with the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOZ, CAS), it comprises 13 branch collection centers, with the Museum of Zoology at IOZ, CAS serving as the main center. The integrated platform encompasses the full spectrum of animal specimen services, including animal specimen resource collection, preservation and management, resource development, and comprehensive sharing services.

NACRC currently maintains approximately 24 million animal specimens, with the main center, the Institute of Zoology's Collection, containing over 10 million specimens. The collections span all of China's provinces, maritime regions, and representative ecosystems, encompassing nearly 80% of China's animal specimen resources and approximately 90% of known animal species. NACRC has successfully digitized and made accessible 4.08 million specimen records accompanied by 940,000 images. Annually, NACRC provide services for over 1 million specimens through on-site examinations, specimen loans, and remote access capabilities, serving nearly 3,000 researchers and hosting collection tours for 30,000 visitors.

NACRC brings together China's most prestigious zoological research institutions and collections, powered by world-class research teams and expert specimen management professionals. Building upon our robust preservation foundation, NACRC is now pioneering the next frontier of biodiversity science through advanced integration of resources and data mining. NACRC is positioned to implement AI-driven methodologies and automated systems in animal resource research while developing cutting-edge smart service capabilities. Through this intelligent service ecosystem, NACRC will provide essential support for fundamental research and technological innovation, cementing our international influence and leadership position in zoological collections and specimen science.