The project studies the issue of linguistic diversity in the context of the Lisbon goals of achieving a competitive, dynamic, knowledge-based economy. Political, economic and social changes call for a new relationship between universities, social actors and linguistic diversity; and HE departments need to overcome compartmentalization, and build a framework drawing on the joint expertise to work towards a truly institutional approach to multilingualism. The full partners (6 EU universities and a research centre) will foster a societal debate on the implications of multilingualism, with over 20 other associated partners: universities and research centres, business confederations, and pan-European organizations, eg NPLD, AER, LICOM, who will contribute to and disseminate the project results. EUNoM aims to: (a) Build the key issues into (i) a framework to allow a reconception of the relationship between higher education, other levels of education and training, society and linguistic diversity, and (ii) a research agenda which can contribute to the EU research priorities;(c) “Raise awareness of the value and opportunities of the EU's linguistic diversity and encourage the removal of barriers to intercultural dialogue” through guidelines and presentations at the local level; (d) Devise a model to expand a network of institutions dedicated to the promotion of multilingualism in learning and research settings; (e) Disseminate the project results to a wider audience across society by electronic publications and presentations; (f) Ensure the sustainability of the network’s activities past the initial co-funding period.EUNoM’s 5 symposia (in 5 EU countries) target specific themes relevant to the European Commission’s focus on multilingualism, and highlight cutting-edge research and good practice. The final conference will be held, in Brussels, hopefully under the auspices of at one parliamentary group. The proceedings will be published and disseminated.