CENTER OF GREEK AND CHINESE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

       The Center of Greek and Chinese Civilizations (ΚΕLKIP) is a non-profit organization established in December of 2021 by four Greek universities (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens,  Αristotle University of Athens, University of Crete and University of Patras.  A counterpart Chinese Center of Chinese and Greek universities with four partners (Southwest University,  Renmin University, Sichuan University and Shandong University) was established at approximately the same time.

       The first Steering Committee of KELKIP comprised Chloe Balla (Professor of University of Crete), Pantelis Golitsis (Professor of AUTH) and Giannis Kalogerakos, (Professor of ΝΚUA), Pavlos Kontos (Professor of University of Patras), Stelios Virvidakis (Emeritus Professor of NKUA).  In February 2023, the members of the Steering Committee received a congratulatory letter from Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, which was widely reported by the Chinese media.  In January 2025,  Professor Chloe Balla assumed the presidency of the Steering Committee.

      The main aims of  ΚΕLKIP, stated in its charter are:  1. The promotion of research into ancient Greek and ancient Chinese civilizations and of their deeper understanding through a comparative approach. 2. The coordination and funding of research programs, educational projects and related bilateral activities.  3. The development  of cooperation, the promotion and realization of joint projects, involving international research centers, foundations and universities, in Europe, in America and in Asia.  4. The diffusion and propagation of research results, in Greece, in China and worldwide.

    The activities of the Center focus on the basic areas of Humanities and Social Sciences, including Philosophy, History and Archeology, History of Philosophy, of Science and of Art, Literature, Religious Studies, Social Anthropology and Political Science, with a view to fostering the comparative analysis of forms of social and political life, artistic creation and to highlighting cultural values.

     The aims specified are pursued through academic exchanges at various levels, involving university faculty, researchers and students, the organization of international scientific congresses and  symposia, summer schools and public lectures, the publication of translations of classical texts, studies and commentaries,  of original research monographs and of  articles in international journals.  Moreover, KELKIP supports exhibitions of artworks and the production of documentaries regarding topics from the two cultural traditions and examined in a comparative perspective.

    Several of the above activities have already been successfully realized, with the participation of researchers from Greece, China and the international academic community, especially during 2023, when the four Greek universities received funding through an ESPA program of the  European Union.