Innovation (CIAW)
Center for 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 initiatives at the crossroads of Antiquity, pedagogy, and digital innovation. While the journal remains CIAW’s principal publication, the Center acts as a collaborative hub that safeguards 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 programmes in information technology. From the outset, CIAW has been shaped as a collective endeavour, supported by national and international colleagues represented in its editorial and advisory boards.
Our Mission
- 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.
- Foster dialogue between Ancient Studies and contemporary debates on technology and education.
- Operate as a non-profit initiative, reinvesting resources into research and community-oriented activities.
Core Activities
Beyond publishing the journal, CIAW actively 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 and independent scholars.
- Collaborative projects experimenting with AI, VR, and gamification in education.
- Ethics and methods forums on transparent, responsible, and critical use of digital tools.
Core Values
Openness
All research and pedagogical outputs are completely open access and freely available to all.
Collaboration
Fostering active interdisciplinary and cross-institutional exchange around the globe.
Equity
Intentionally amplifying diverse and historically marginalised voices in Ancient Studies.
Critical Reflection
Advocating for transparent, ethical, and highly responsible uses of modern digital tools.
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.
