HLT in DK Views and proposals

1
HLT in DKViews and proposals

• Bente Maegaard
• Center for Sprogteknologi
• bente_at_cst.dk

2
Denmarks position

• Denmark is very close to EU average
• Denmark wants to be a leading IT nation
• This means that Denmark should try seriously to
  improve on both aspects
• Research
• Opportunity
• The report shows that there is a strong
  correlation

3
Research

• In which aspects are we different from e.g.
  Germany or NL/BE? Strategic programmes
• Germany has had strategic programmes for a very
  long time. According to the EUROMAP report this
  has clearly paid off.
• The programmes required collaboration between
  academia and industry.
• NL/BE has started the NTU as a strategic effort
  concerning resources and basic components.

4
HLT research in Denmark

• HLT research takes place in many Danish
  universities
• At least 4 universities have departments
  dedicated to HLT research and education
• This becomes scattered. Collaboration is needed
• The Ministry of STI has decided that CST should
  take the leading role in the creation of a
  consortium for language technology in order to
  get a critical mass

5
Multi-linguality

• Multi-linguality in research?
• The report favours the interest in more than one
  language. E.g. it favours the development of
  novel technologies and the application of it to
  several languages.
• We have been more concerned with the Danish
  language, - with some exceptions.
• Maybe we should have a broader scope in the
  future, - will we have the resources for that?

6
Take-up

• The number of products on the market is limited.
• Technology transfer is not sufficient, - or are
  the research results not sufficient?
• ICT infrastructure is fine
• Business formation conditions are fine
• No access to channel suppliers
• Small linguistic community

7
Accss to 'distribution channels' for HLT
8
Demand side index
9
Responsibility for the languages?

• The report envisages a truly multilingual Europe
  (as opposed to multi-language) where all
  languages are equal. This is the only way in
  which Europe can be competitive, we need full
  communication, to and from all languages.
• Who has the ultimate responsibility for the
  development of resources, research results and
  products for a language?
• Maybe The countries of that language, plus the
  EU

10
Final comments Language Technology Agency

• Creation of an agency will be extremely good -
  for visibility and for action.
• Infrastructural funds will be necessary for some
  years - until basic resources and components are
  available for all old and new EU languages