NLP Bridges is an initiative created by Dr Mo El-Haj, Director of the VinNLP Group, to bring together global experts in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and connect them with researchers, students, and communities in low-resource regions.

The initiative is a continuation of earlier efforts aimed at enriching resources for low-resource languages, fostering collaboration, and opening up new opportunities for scholars across Asia, Africa, and other underrepresented parts of the world. Starting from Vietnam, NLP Bridges seeks to expand globally, making it easier for those often excluded from top-tier NLP events to engage, learn, and collaborate.

While efforts such as Masakhane have brought needed attention to the field, there is still much to be done. Access to high-end computational power remains a significant barrier in many countries, restricting meaningful participation. We risk silencing entire communities by developing NLP tools for their languages without their direct involvement, which introduces bias and misrepresentation into our models.

NLP Bridges promotes meaningful engagement, inclusive research practices, and a shift away from resource-draining methods in favour of sustainable and equitable approaches to NLP. We invite experts worldwide to share their insights and support the development of open, accessible NLP for all.

If you would like to participate in NLP Bridges—either by giving a talk or collaborating—please get in touch.

— Dr Mo El-Haj, VinNLP Director, NLP Bridges Founder, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam

Note: All talks are scheduled at 4:00 PM Hanoi Time (GMT+7), which corresponds to 9:00 AM GMT and 4:00 AM EST.