LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGY FOR EUROPE 2020: THE MISSING PIECE IN THE PUZZLE? (PDF version)
On 19 June 2012, LT-Innovate, the Forum for Europe’s Language Technology Industry, organises the first LTInnovate Summit in Brussels.
Stakeholders from industry, research, policy making and finance will come together to discuss the potential of Language Technologies as key strategic drivers of the knowledge economy. The summit will highlight best practice cases, opportunities, barriers and seek to develop a common vision for the future.
Showcase sessions will allow LT companies to present themselves. Innovation Focus sessions will allow stakeholders to develop innovation scenarios for specific economic and societal challenges. The day will culminate in the Award Ceremony of the LT-Innovate Award 2012 and a Gala Dinner.
KNOWLEDGE IS THE NEXT INTERNET FRONTIER.
Language Technology encompasses the many ways to access, capture and exploit the intelligence embedded in data. In short, Language Technology makes data in any language accessible, intelligent, understandable and, ultimately, valuable. Jochen Hummel, Chairman of LT-Innovate, summarises the challenge: “The Knowledge Economy depends on powerful Language Technology”.
LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGY, THE MISSING PIECE IN THE PUZZLE OF THE DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET?
Jochen Hummel states: “Most key objectives of the European Union’s policy drive to encourage innovation, to create a digital single market, to regain global competitiveness and to address societal challenges can only be achieved if knowledge can be seamlessly shared across language borders and if communication is not an issue. This implies a powerful language infrastructure - or Language Cloud - which makes content accessible to anybody, anywhere, in any language!”.
EUROPE SHOULD CAPITALIZE ON KEY ASSETS
Language Technology enables people to access and make sense of data generated in Europe's many languages. The unprecedented demand for information - by institutions, businesses and citizens – is opening and establishing new market opportunities for European Language Technology developers and suppliers. In parallel, Language Technologies are playing a key role in social inclusion as they allow overcoming language barriers in a continent with 63 languages.
Mr. Hummel concludes: “The European Language Technology industry has a solid scientific and engineering base. It has the potential to turn the obstacles of the European multilingual market into opportunities and turn out products fit for the global markets. Language Technology represents a strategic asset. Europe should treat it as one of its crown jewels! “
