Project description
Smarter, greener language tech for all
Most AI language tools today are massive, energy-hungry systems built with a one-size-fits-all mindset. But they rarely adapt well to new tasks, and they often ignore the thousands of under-resourced languages spoken around the world. With this in mind, the ERC-funded MARMoT project will develop modular AI language models that are smarter, leaner, and more inclusive. Building on earlier research from the FoTran project, MARMoT is creating production-ready tools that can be tailored to specific tasks (such as translation, summarisation, or simplification), while reducing their carbon footprint. By focusing on adaptability, sustainability, and support for underserved languages, MARMoT aims to democratise language technology and make it a global and accessible resource.
Objective
Recent innovations in language technologies have introduced large language models that industry players often pitch as one-size-fit-all solutions. These systems are however rarely reusable in novel contexts, nor sustainable given their massive parameter counts, nor scalable across the thousands of languages spoken in the world. In response, we intend to build upon the findings of ERC funded project FoTran, and develop modular architectures in which parts of a network are designed to be specialized for a given task, and specialized components can be added throughout the lifetime of a model. This approach has the potential to significantly reduce the growing carbon footprint of generative AI, and will allow us to reach a broad language coverage and target under-served languages.
Our MARMoT projects focuses more specifically on two goals: (i) converting our research prototypes of scalable modular architectures for language modeling and translation into production-ready software with broad applicability and (ii) developing pretrained models that can readily be used and adapted to a wide range of languages, scenarios and real-world applications. We will emphasize the support of under-resourced languages and domains in order to push for inclusiveness and language service equality.
This PoC will focus on developing open tools that can be used not only in computer-assisted translation, but also in related language services such as summarization, paraphrasing and text simplification. We will produce customizable language processing assets based on a modular design that will put the emphasis on scalability, reusability, and sustainability, thereby making them efficient during inference and easily deployable by key stakeholders, from industry to government agencies. This platform will deliver language technology solutions that can be customized at the task level so as to fit a broad array of language and application contexts.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-POC
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00014 Helsinki
Finland
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