Innovation in Ancient Worlds

The Center for Innovation in Ancient Worlds (CIAW) was created in 2025 as a non-profit academic framework to sustain AI & Antiquity and to provide space for new initiatives at the crossroads of Antiquity, pedagogy, and digital innovation. While the journal remains CIAW’s principal publication, the Center was conceived as a collaborative hub that ensures independence, continuity, and academic integrity across projects.

Foundation
CIAW emerged from the intersection of teaching and research initiatives developed across universities and vocational training centers in both the humanities and computer science. It draws on the experience of institutions such as the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), the Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM), and Kyoto Prefectural University (KPU), alongside contributions from vocational training programs in information technology. From the outset, CIAW has been shaped as a collective endeavor, supported by colleagues from national and international institutions whose perspectives are represented in its editorial and advisory boards, ensuring diversity, collaboration, and academic integrity.

Mission
CIAW’s mission is to:

  • Support the publication of AI & Antiquity as a peer-reviewed, open-access journal.

  • Encourage collaboration among scholars, educators, and technologists worldwide.

  • Develop resources for inclusive pedagogy and the responsible use of digital tools in the humanities.

  • Foster dialogue between Ancient Studies and contemporary debates on technology, society, and education.

  • Operate as a non-profit initiative, reinvesting all resources into research, pedagogy, and community-oriented activities.

Activities
Beyond publishing the journal, CIAW promotes:

  • Workshops and seminars on Ancient Studies, pedagogy, and digital humanities.

  • Inclusive teaching resources, with special attention to neurodivergent learners.

  • Networking opportunities for early-career researchers, teachers, and independent scholars.

  • Collaborative projects experimenting with AI, VR, gamification, and other emerging technologies.

  • Ethics and methods forums offering guidance on transparent, responsible, and critical use of digital tools.

Values

  • Openness – all outputs are open access and freely available.

  • Collaboration – built on interdisciplinary and cross-institutional exchange.

  • Equity – amplifying voices historically marginalized in Ancient Studies.

  • Critical reflection – ensuring that digital tools are applied transparently and ethically.

Non-Profit Character
As a non-profit academic initiative, CIAW does not pursue commercial gain. Its funding model is based on voluntary contributions, occasional grants, and donations, all of which are reinvested in academic and pedagogical work. This ensures intellectual autonomy, sustainability, and alignment with its founding values of openness, inclusivity, and accessibility.