More than 1,400 organizations around the world, including large enterprises, educational institutions, government agencies and the US Military, currently use Second Life to hold meetings, conduct training and prototype new technologies more efficiently and cost effectively. For example, IBM held a conference in Second Life that it estimated was executed at one-fifth the cost of a physical event, saving the company more than $320,000. Additionally, military organizations and defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman have significantly reduced R&D costs by moving design and simulation efforts to Second Life.