In the information age, a language for which not all the necessary resources, tools, and end products are available will be marginalized. The current infrastructure for language and speech technology for Dutch is seriously underdeveloped and, if no new initiatives are being developed, might lead to a situation where the language will only be used in informal settings.
The development of resources for Dutch language and speech technology has not been at the center of attention of a single, coordinating, institution. Consequently, resources have only been developed incidentally and on a small scale, with little or no attention for the needs of the research community as a whole.
The recent initiatives of the NTU might well be a first step towards improving this situation. As a public, intergovernmental, institution, the NTU can play a central role in the development of resources, the maintenance of such resources, and in monitoring the quality of available resources and language and speech products. Furthermore, it can coordinate research initiatives, advise funding bodies (research councils, ministries, the European Union, etc) on their policy with respect to resource development, and provide a platform where university researchers, industry, and funding bodies can meet and exchange ideas.