On 11th of May, 2010, the Statutes of the UNESCO International Traditional Knowledge Institute (ITKI) were formally signed by the Founding Members, Pietro Laureano (IPOGEA Italy), Paolo del Bianco (Fondazione del Bianco and Life Beyond Tourism Italy), Luciano Bartolini (Mayor of Bagno A Ripoli, Firenze) and Michael Carrington (The Maria Nobrega Foundation).
Dr Vandana Shiva is the First Honorary President Emeritus of The Institute and is pictured below with Mr Pietro Laureano, Founder of the Institute. Mrs Elizabeth Tsakiroglou was elected by the Executive Board as the First International President of the Institute.
The new Institute received the unanimous support of the Municipal Council of Bagno A Ripoli and of Professor Francesco Bandarin, Director General UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Paris in a televised conference on Thursday 13th May 2010 in Firenze, Italy.