Introduction

Abstract

The STEVIN ("STEVIN" is a Dutch acronym for "Essential Speech and Language Technology Resources for Dutch") programme aimed to contribute to the further progress of Human Language Technology for Dutch (HLTD) in the Low Countries (i.e., Flanders and the Netherlands) and to stimulate innovation in this sector. The major scientific goals were to set up an effective digital language infrastructure for Dutch, and to carry out strategic research in the field of language and speech technology for Dutch. 1 Consortia could submit project proposals in response to calls for proposals. Several calls were issued, and they included three open calls and two calls for tender as well. The thematic priorities for each call were determined in line with the overall STEVIN priorities and the state of their realisation before each call. The STEVIN thematic priorities, based on what is called the Basic Language Resource Kit (BLARK) for Dutch [20], are summarised in Tables 1.1 and 1.2. A BLARK is defined as the set of basic HLT resources that should be available for both academia and industry [13].STEVIN advocated an integrated approach: develop text and speech resources and tools, stimulate innovative strategic and application-oriented research, promote embedding of HLT in existing applications and services, stimulate HLT demand via 1 We refer the reader to Chap. 2 for more details. P. Spyns ( ) Nederlandse Taalunie,