Dr Xiaochun Zhang, UCL - Bridging Worlds: Reflections on Academia–Industry Collaboration for Inclusive Innovation

This talk reflects on the collaborative dynamics underpinning three accessibility-focused projects, AD4Games, TransAD4Games, and AIAD, that brought together academic researchers and industry partners to explore audio description in video games. Rather than presenting research findings, the talk offers a strategic and experiential account of cross-sector engagement, highlighting how inclusive innovation is shaped through co-creation. Drawing on lived experience and project leadership, the talk will examine the benefits of collaboration, including accelerated impact, access to technical expertise, and the embedding of inclusive design into commercial pipelines. It will also address common challenges, such as navigating differing priorities, timelines, and institutional cultures. Particular attention will be paid to the relational labour of partnership-building, trust, communication, and mutual learning, as well as to the structural conditions that enable or constrain collaboration. Designed for colleagues seeking to initiate or deepen industry engagement, this talk will share practical insights and tips for fostering sustainable partnerships. It will also reflect on how collaborative infrastructures can support systemic change in accessibility and beyond. By foregrounding process over product, this talk invites a broader conversation about the role of academia in shaping inclusive futures through strategic, values-driven collaboration in the language industry.

Klaus Fleischmann, CEO Kaleidoscope - The RenAIssance of Language Assets and Language Orchestration

The advent of GenAI certainly shook up the entire language industry. Reactions have ranged from complete panic to enthusiastic start-up initiatives. As the dust settles, it becomes clear that without sound multilingual data and a solid orchestration framework, GenAI alone cannot solve all the challenges. Yes, quite likely GenAI will take over or at least greatly impact certain steps in the overall localization process. But what is regularly overlooked is that as an industry, we have already been highly technological for decades and none of this becomes obsolete. On the contrary, it now serves as data to ground custom AI models. And also, translation processes are more than “only” taking words from one language to another. It involves significant people, process and systems management to work well in a highly integrated commercial environment.

To be confirmed

• Member institution/affiliate member first delegate - FREE

• Member institution/affiliate member additional delegates - £50

• Students from member institutions - £30

• Students from non-member institutions - £50

• Non-member institution attendees - £100

Cardiff has a wide range of options for accommodation to suit all budgets, within walking distance of the conference venue. We recommend booking accommodation as early as possible. Options can be found at the Visit Cardiff website.

More details to follow soon.

To be confirmed