A boost for language technology research in Greece
The project LANGTERRA (Enhancing the research potential of ILSP/"Athena" R.C. in language technology in the European Research ERA) was set up to support the Institute for Language and Speech Processing (ILSP) of the Athena Research and Innovation Center in Information, Communication and Knowledge Technologies (Athena RIC). The ILSP has, for almost three decades, contributed to the evolution of LTs in a wide range of areas, including linguistic studies, information technology and signal processing. Through LANGTERRA activities, the institute built on recent developments in the field and worked to mobilise its resources to maintain its position as a centre of excellence. This involved organising scientific workshops and networking with a host of world-class research entities in various European countries. An experienced innovation manager was recruited and experienced researchers brought in for targeted research areas. Related activities and efforts have set the stage for joint proposals that are either in the making or already in progress. Project funding was used to purchase state-of-the-art research equipment. It also helped establish the Human Behaviour, Interaction and Communication Lab to support the Institute's current and future research needs. These developments enable the ILSP to keep abreast of market changes and relevant advances in technology and science. Dissemination and outreach included five scientific workshops, some at major international conferences, three Info Days that helped reach and inform a wider audience, and active presence at CeBIT 2015. Informational and promotional materials (leaflets, a booklet and video clips) were also designed and produced. Work done during the project has already spurred a wide range of research, development and innovation activities at the institute. The efforts significantly improve its position and align it with the current state of the art. This translates to improved human-machine interactions and use of emotion-aware devices, enhanced knowledge extraction and harvesting from language-rich content and more effective approaches to language learning and learning disabilities. LANGTERRA contributed to marked improvements regarding the ILSP's research capacity and performance. The extensive networking, knowledge transfer and upgraded research infrastructure have increased the Institute's potential to excel at the European level in its areas of expertise.
Keywords
Language technology, multimodal communication, language learning, learning disabilities, LANGTERRA
