The institute was founded by Prof. Häussinger, the then Director of the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases. Already in the year 2009, the partnership with Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU) was formalised with a "Letter of Intent". In October 2010, a corresponding cooperation agreement was signed and preparations for the construction of the institute began. The construction of the institute was made possible in part by a donation from Mr. Wolfgang Hirsch. The building of the institute was completed by the end of 2012 and officially opened in October 2013.