1
00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:08,120
LEAD-ME started on October 1st
and will run for 4 years.

2
00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,520
During the Kick-off meeting,
representatives from 24 EU countries

3
00:00:12,540 --> 00:00:16,940
voted in the chair Pilar Orero
of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona,

4
00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:20,200
and vice chair, Robin Ribback from IPmedia.

5
00:00:20,660 --> 00:00:22,840
Hello, my name is Pilar Orero

6
00:00:23,260 --> 00:00:26,940
I work at
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain,

7
00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:31,180
and I will be the chair
of the new COST project LEAD-ME.

8
00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,920
I am 60 years of age, I’m well built,

9
00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:41,640
I have gray hair and
I am standing in my patio in Barcelona.

10
00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:48,160
LEAD-ME aims to help all stakeholders in Europe
in the field of Media Accessibility,

11
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:51,800
and related topics
-such as AI and Interactive Technologies

12
00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:56,660
to meet the legal milestones requested by
the recently passed European legislation.

13
00:00:57,620 --> 00:01:03,220
Researchers, engineers, scholars,
along with businesses and policy makers

14
00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,780
will be empowered by LEAD-ME
with a common and unique platform.

15
00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:13,120
During the next 48 months,
this platform will collect, create, disseminate

16
00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:18,460
and promote innovative technologies and solutions
and best practices and guidelines.

17
00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:24,800
In turn, it will contribute towards existing
and new standards on Media Accessibility

18
00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,760
among 28 European or associated countries.

19
00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:33,060
To do this, the LEAD-ME network
will make the most of the the COST Action tools

20
00:01:33,060 --> 00:01:36,900
though meetings, working group meetings,
educational institutes

21
00:01:36,900 --> 00:01:41,160
short-term scientific missions
and dissemination activities to name a few.

22
00:01:41,340 --> 00:01:46,420
LEAD-ME will boost a cultural change
and a new mindset which will prompt the design

23
00:01:46,420 --> 00:01:51,160
of tools for professional and private activities
for all European citizens,

24
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,820
of all abilities and disabilities.

25
00:01:54,260 --> 00:02:00,440
This COST Action is crucial to avoid further
fragmentation in the European accessibility scene

26
00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,020
and challenges the
European Single Digital Market idea.

27
00:02:04,220 --> 00:02:09,280
The uneven take-up in Europe
is the direct result of the complex nature of Media,

28
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,240
the ever-changing background technology involved
and its business models,

29
00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,460
and wealth of EU languages.

30
00:02:15,580 --> 00:02:19,840
Welcome to the Leading Platform
for European Citizens, Industries,

31
00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,480
Academia and Policymakers
in Media Accessibility.