Open Innovation Dialogue: Closing Europe’s AI Language Gap

Conference Details

Date: 15 June 2026

Time: 18:30

Duration: 3 hours

Location: Strasbourg, France

Cost: Register online for more information.

Organiser: The Parliaments Events and Microsoft

Conference Website

Conference Description

Europe’s languages, cultures, and communities belong at the heart of the AI era, not on its margins. Yet many regional and minority languages remain underrepresented in today’s AI systems, held back by limited online presence and a lack of dedicated resources. Bridging that gap demands open data, open models, and the cross-institutional partnerships that only public-private collaboration can deliver.

This dinner is an opportunity for MEPs to meet the researchers, broadcasters, and cultural organizations taking part in the Microsoft LINGUA program, working to bring AI to their constituents’ languages. Through a speed-dating format, grantees will share the projects spanning languages spoken by over 65 million people across Europe, showing what’s at stake for real people and communities.

The session takes place at the European Parliament during plenary week, as part of the Open Innovation Dialogue Hub, a two-day gathering on 15–16 June co-organized by Microsoft’s Open Innovation Center, the Council of Europe, and GitHub. The Hub convenes policymakers, researchers, cultural institutions, and LINGUA grantees to examine how open innovation can strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty.