The I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, initially founded as a committee in 1919 and established in its current form on August 1, 1930, stands as Ukraine's leading institution and Eastern Europe's foremost regional center for zoological research and expertise. Named after its first director, the evolutionary biologist Ivan Schmalhausen, the Institute focuses on the fauna of Ukraine, animal evolution, and taxonomy, alongside developing crucial policies for wildlife conservation and management.
It plays a vital role in national and international biodiversity studies, offering expertise for implementing major conventions like the CBD and the Bonn Convention, and notably houses the CITES Coordinating Centre. Furthermore, the Institute is a significant collection-housing institution, safeguarding over six million specimens—including 18,225 type materials and more than 20,000 amber inclusions—which are officially recognized as part of Ukraine's national heritage.