EUROMAP III (HOPE) aims

Research carried out during EUROMAP I and II (1996-1999), revealed the huge potential of the research sector in Human Language Technology (HLT) in Europe (10,000 researchers exclusively in the HLT sector), but also, the relatively small demand for the results of related research activities, from the population of 200,000 language professionals, the large number of international companies, as well as from the large number of multilingual consumers, businesses and organisations using on-line services. 

In part, this gap is due to a lack of knowledge and awareness about the reciprocity of interests among various organisations which are involved in the development and provision of HLT. EUROMAP today, can help in bridging this knowledge gap with the active support of collaboration among the various organisations. This is expected to accelerate the transfer process of HLT towards the markets. 

The main aim of EUROMAP is therefore the creation of opportunities to increase demand for results of national and European RTD in the field of HLT. The project focuses on the transfer of HLT from the research field to the markets through the creation of "interest groups" among the main organisations involved in the development of this technology. EUROMAP will establish communities aiming to acquire relevant experience on a national level initially, while it will also expand to cross-border activities throughout Europe, including the pre-accession countries. 

EUROMAP is carried out by a group of 8 National Focal Points in Austria,  Belgium the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece,  Italy and Spain, all of which have at least four years of experience in HLT awareness building activities.  

Today, EUROMAP hopes to identify, document and assist the "path to market" of HLT-related work and results. The communities which will be formed in the framework of the project will be orientated towards sharing experiences and codifying the way in which research results can be transformed more quickly, more economically and more effectively into useful applications. Targeted case studies will shed light on best practice examples in the transfer and the creation of demand for HLT.