Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) was established on November 24th, 1994. ITBC was founded in 1996. With the coordinating assistance of the Institute, local and international scientists can better explore the diverse terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems of the tropics, especially Sabah.

The founding head of the Tropical Biology and Conservation Unit is Prof. Emeritus Datin Dr. Maryati Mohamed whose responsibilities were to establish and build up a fully competent Unit then (now the Institute). Prof. Emeritus Datin Dr. Maryati Mohamed, an insects taxonomist by training, started several of the basic components of the Institute including the BORNEENSIS Reference Collection Centre, and helped to train many of the university's first and earliest graduates in science.