The Mercator Network of Language Diversity Centers will build upon and expand theactivities undertaken by its constituent members and their networks as well as promoteand enhance the expertise developed by staff and institutions over the past two decadesin the field of language diversity and language learning. The Mercator Network intendswith this project to expand to other multilingual settings, including immigrant languagesand smaller state languages with special emphasis on language needs arising fromexpansion, integration, migration and globalisation.The network, through its constituent members and their own sub-networks oforganizations and institutions, will connect language communities across Europe,promote knowledge sharing and facilitate structured exchange of best practice andcutting edge initiatives through its program of activities.These include:a) Three major, high profile international conferences, to showcase and criticallyappraise practical projects as well as scientific research and to bring togetherkey players.b) Three in-depth thematic workshops, bringing together and evaluatingsuccessful innovations aimed at the dissemination of best practice in targetgroupsc) Annual reports on the state of innovation in European language diversity inorder to disseminate and enhance the exploitation to policy makers, opinionformers, professionals and practitioners.d) A comprehensive multilingual website aimed at dissemination of information,research activities and results as well as easing communication between thenetwork and its users.e) A research agenda, which will set the agenda of research areas in order toharmonize existing research and to promote new areas of research rangingfrom formal and informal pre-primary language learning up to adult education