LT Innovate - the Forum for Europe's Language Technology

LT Innovate is the new Forum for Europe's Language Technology industry. Its main goals are: to promote Language Technology as a key enabling technology for Europe's economy and society; to unify the LT SMEs for increased competitiveness in the global market place; to facilitate technology transfer from research to the market; and to enhance the sector's visibility vis-à-vis users. A directory displays companies and their products that may be of interest for business users. The EU Corner provides links to other language-oriented initiatives, amongst them the Business Platform for Multilingualism and the CELAN project.

EMF attended the e-Skills Week stakeholders opening conference

EMF as e-Skills Week stakeholder attended on 19 March 2012 the  e-Skills Week stakeholders opening conference in Brussels. The Conference bought together all stakeholders – such as high-level public authorities, key industry representatives and research organisations - to discuss the current situation and needs of the e-Skilled workforce.

The event featured a plenary session on e-Skills policy in practice, as well as panel debates on the topic of e-Skills with both young people and ICT professionals.

More events and activities are foreseen for the upcoming weeks, culminating in a dedicated e-Skills Week final conference on 30 March 2012.

"Lexicograffiti" at the European Parliament

The Terminology Coordination Unit of the European Parliament organised The Lexicograffiti Seminar,  the 4th seminar of the cycle Terminology in the Changing World of Translation, aimed to expand translators’ knowledge in the field of terminology and other related domains essential to their profession. Among the speaker was Prof. Gerhard Budin, partner in the CELAN project.
Visit the TermCoord website for links to terminology data bases, terminology networks worldwide and EU bodies dealing with translation.

Executive Training Programme in Japan and Korea

The European Commission supports European company executives who want to get immersed into the business culture of Japan and Korea. 45 weeks in the country, of which 12 actively in a Japanese or Korean company. The course includes cultural, economic, historic and linguistic aspects and is open to all sectors. More information can be found at www.euetp.eu. 
Deadline for the next submission of applications is 31 May 2012.
You may be also interested in the EU Gateway programme in which the European Commission funds business missions to Japan and Korea.

Round Table and Business Platform Report

Despite of the strike emptying the streets of Brussels that Monday, 30 January 2012, the CELAN Round Table attracted 35+ high level stakeholders in the Language for Business arena. During the first part, Wolfgang Mackiewicz, CELAN coordinator, gave a short introduction after which the Steering Committee members presented the activities carried out so far. Here are the presentations for downloading:
CELAN Overview - Margaretha Mazura, EMF
Language needs for European Businesses - Gustavo Gonzalez-Qujano, COTANCE
Language Industry Stock Taking - Christian Galinksi, INFOTERM
CELAN platform and tools - Mike Hammersley, FAV

Chaired by Professor Stephen Hagen, an expert panel consisting of representatives from industry and the learning environment reflected on CELAN results and discussed the best way to raise awareness about the importance of multilingualism to businesses. Some of the key outcome were: Sensibilise the young for languages; give real-life use cases as examples, ideally around a successful (language) business model; raise  awareness of opportunities in a global world; and finally, the confirmed fact that "not one size fits all".

The Business Platform for Multilingualism meeting the following morning enlarged the audience while contributing to the findings of the Round Table. The meeting was kick-started by Belén Bernaldo de Quirós, Head of Unit for Multilingual Policy at DG EAC. She gave an overview of the political landscape of multilingualism at EU level, emphasising the most recent Council Conclusions on Mobility that gave a clear mandate to the EC to support initiatives like the Business Platform. [Presentation of B. Bernaldo]
Kristina Cunningham, Deputy Head of Unit, gave an overview on "Languages for competitiveness and employability",  while Peter Birch, Head of Sector, EACEA, pointed out the synergies with other LLP projects in his presentation "Languages for business - the LLP experience". The presentations were followed by interactive "World Café" type sessions that discussed the role of higher education for language learning, the way businesses can be reached, and gave indications on the future activities of the Business Platform.

Speakers at CELAN Round Table

Have a look at the speakers at the CELAN Round Table and take the opportunity to talk with reknown experts on language and business at the networking lunch before, the networking cocktail after the event.If you want to register please contact us.

Download the draft programme
Download the speakers list

Language needs of businesses - Round Table 30 Jan 2012

The CELAN project investigates the language needs of businesses and provides solutions to language strategies. The Round Table is geared at businesses, business representative organisations, language service and technology providers, training institutions, etc. It will discuss where market meets training and what should be done in the future to improve competitiveness and employability through language strategies.

The Round Table is followed by the meeting of the Business Platform for Multilingualism on Tuesday, 31 January morning. For more information, have a look at the programme.


Download the draft programme

Le cyberspace, chance et défi pour les langues

Dans la conférence du 22 novembre 2011 organisée par DLF Bruxelles-Europe, le « Le cyberespace, chance et défi pour les langues », les intervenants sont tombés d’accord que la survie des langues est liée à leur présence sur l’Internet. Le cyberespace est résolument l’avenir du multilinguisme. Le développement des technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC) y jouent un rôle déterminant. Pour lire la synthèse, cliquez ici.

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

CELAN wishes all Blog readers, contributors and visitors a peaceful Christmas season and a healthy and wealthy New Year 2012!

Curious how to say these wishes in other languages? For a polyglot Merry Christmas click here. And the Happy New Year can be found here. ENJOY!

Multilingualism for jobs mobility, but not only

On November 17, the Council of the European Union issued conclusions on language competences to enhance mobility. In the document the Council not only addresses multilingualism for jobs mobility but also mentions the importance to foster better use of language competences as a mean of increasing the competitiveness of EU business, and especially that of small and medium-sized enterprises. In this context, the Council welcomes the work of the Business Platform for Multilingualism of which EMF is a member of the Steering Committee, and invites the European Commission to further pursue its support and stakeholder initiatives of this kind.

Download the document