Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) officially rebranded its Borneo Marine Research Institute (IPMB) as Borneo Marine Institute (IMB), signalling a strategic shift to position the university as a global authority in tropical ocean studies.
Its Vice Chancellor – Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor – said the move is poised to transform the institute from a regional body to an international hub of excellence, contributing directly to Malaysia’s blue economy aspirations by leveraging the potential of vast marine resources as a primary driver for future national growth.
“Today, we are witnessing an important strategic step not only for the university but also for Sabah and Malaysia as a whole,” said Kasim, who also launched the institute’s Oceanography Research Centre and Aquaculture Research Centre.
“This new branding will further strengthen UMS’ position as a global strategic partner in tropical oceanography and aquaculture research,” he said.
Meanwhile, IMB Director, Prof Dr Faihana Ching, noted that the rebranding follows the institute’s 2024 elevation to a Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HiCoE), a prestigious national recognition of its role in seafood security.
She said that dropping the word “Research” from the title — mirroring elite institutions like the National Heart Institute (IJN) marks the expansion of the institute’s mandate beyond the laboratory to include broader societal well-being and policy influence.
The institute’s global standing is further enhanced by its role as the country’s dedicated body for International Ocean Institute and its designation as the regional office for the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI).
“These connections will support the two new specialised centres in addressing urgent challenges; the Aquaculture Research Centre focuses on sustainable seafood capacity, while the Oceanography Research Centre provides critical data for disaster mitigation,” she said.
Central to this rebranding is a commitment to the “UMS the Brain of Borneo” mission, which prioritises high-impact research that yields tangible benefits for society over academic publications alone.
The Vice Chancellor said that the IMB would reject “silo” operations, instead embracing a social responsibility to empower coastal communities through education and technology transfer.
“This is the value that sets UMS apart — a university that reaches out to the community, understands the reality on the ground, and brings effective solutions,” Kasim added.
By aligning its goals with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan, the institute is set to serve as a world-class incubator, guiding regional policy and developing sustainable industries that protect Borneo’s unique marine biodiversity for future generations.
