The Institute of Mathematics was established in 1947 in Kunming, China. The Institute relocated to Taiwan in 1949, as research activities almost came to a standstill due to the difficulties caused by unstable political circumstances. When the situation improved a few years later, the Institute immediately began training younger talents. The Institute relocated to Taiwan in 1949, as research activities almost came to a standstill due to the difficulties caused by unstable political circumstances. When the situation improved a few years later, the Institute immediately began training younger talents.

In December of 2009 the Institute of Mathematics moved to the newly completed Astronomy-Mathematics building located on the main campus of the National Taiwan University. The building is shared with the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, the Departments of Mathematics and of Astronomy of the National Taiwan University, creating a center of intense mathematical activities in Taipei. Over the years, the Institute of Mathematics has continued to nurture mathematical talents in Taiwan through its extensive post-doc, research assistant, and summer school programs.

Recent research projects cover the following areas:
1. Applied Mathematics and Analysis: Non-linear partial differential equations, kinetic theory, geometric analysis, dynamical systems.
2. Geometry and Mathematical physics: Complex geometry, knot theory, integrable systems.
3. Combinatorical Mathematics and Applications: Graph theory, combinatorial model theory, finite group theory and applications.
4. Probability Theory and Applications: Stochastic analysis, financial mathematics.
5. Number Theory and Algebra: Arithmetic geometry, diophantine problem, commutative algebra, representation theory.
6. Computing Mathematics