Mission

Promoted by UNESCO since 2010, and formally associated on July 3rd, 2015, with the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (UNESCO-WWAP), the International Traditional Knowledge Institute (ITKI), with international president Elizabeth Nobrega de Araujo Tsakiroglou, and  with president Pietro Laureano, headquarters in Florence, is an initiative to gather detailed information about traditional techniques and sustainable technologies used by ancient cultures, otherwise known as Traditional Knowledge (TK).  

The International Traditional Knowledge Institute, U.S. Division (ITKI US), was formed with the support of the University of Arizona, the City of Tucson and Pima County, to further the scope of the ITKI initiatives in North America.

Our aim is to contribute to the preservation of TK systems by cultivating regional communities who are invested in the preservation of local TK.   While North American TK systems are the focus of our efforts,  we strongly encourage the contribution of TK from around the world.

Our efforts:


Develop a comprehensive and universal collection of Creative Knowledge through the Creative Knowledge Platform.

Support the initiatives of the ITKI chapters around the world in augmenting the Traditional Knowledge World Bank developed by ITKI.


Encourage Traditional Knowledge Communities as a social forum for exploring TK and communicating Best Practices and Case Studies

Promote sustainable solutions using traditional knowledge through interactive tools and innovative events