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Stephen Hagen, Director of the Centre for Research, Innovation and Graduate Studies (CRIGS) at the University of West of England, Bristol, and Professor at the Warwick Business School, UK, will present the ELAN report on the effects on the European economy of companies' lack of language skills. Hagen will present the results of this study, which highlights the contrast between the strengths and weaknesses with regard to business results for European companies that have, or lack, a good multilingual strategy. Leonard Orban, EU Commissioner for Multilingualism, is to present the European Union's policy lines with regard to multilingualism.

This is the first of a series of conferences to be organised by the Linguamón-UOC Chair in Multilingualism. The other sessions are to be held on December 3 and 5. These conferences are designed to offer an introductory presentation of the different aspects that need to be taken into account when assessing multilingual strategies. They are to involve some of the leading lights in the field and representatives from Catalan business.

Conference on Multilingualism and Own Language: Challenges and Opportunities for the Catalan Economy
The Catalan economy is fully integrated into Europe (European exports have increased on average each year by 12.2% between 1988 and 2005). In this context, and in terms of the world market, adaptation to multilingualism is vital for success, as can be seen in the ELAN report: having a language strategy, hiring staff with language skills (and native speakers) and making appropriate use of translation and interpretation are key to international expansion. Alongside this, Catalan society has recovered the official standing for its own language, Catalan, which has to become the common language at work and in communications between companies and citizens – as is set out in Article 34 of Catalonia's new Statutes of Autonomy. Multilingualism and own language are then inseparable parts of the new language strategies that are beginning to be designed by Catalonia's most innovative companies and corporations.

Chair in Multilingualism
The UOC and Linguamón-House of Languages jointly created the Linguamón-UOC Chair in Multilingualism last November so as to promote research, training, information and documentation activities regarding multilingualism as a means for the social and economic development of society. Thus, it looks to act as a forum for reflection and analysis on the role of languages and multilingualism in Europe and in the process of globalisation in society, and as the framework for international cooperation for academic training in this field.

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