# HiTZ zentroa
**Wikidata**: [Q100594753](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100594753)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hitz-zentroa

## Summary
HiTZ zentroa is a research institute dedicated to language technology and Natural Language Processing, established in 2019. It is a specialized center within the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) located in San Sebastián, Spain.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** Founded in 2019.
- **Parent Organization:** University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU).
- **Location:** San Sebastián, Spain (Manuel Lardizabal pasealekua, 1).
- **Classification:** Research institute.
- **Creators:** Formed by the Ixa Group and AhoLab.
- **Main Subject:** Language technology.
- **Leadership:** Directed by Eneko Agirre (since 2020); previously directed by Arantza Diaz de Ilarraza Sanchez (2019–2020).
- **Notable Works:** Developer of the Latxa project and the Euscrawl corpus.
- **Languages of Operation:** Basque, Spanish, and English.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of HiTZ zentroa?
A: HiTZ zentroa is a research institute focused on the development and advancement of language technology. It serves as a hub for research in Natural Language Processing, particularly within the context of the Basque language and digital environments.

### Q: Where is HiTZ zentroa located?
A: The institute is headquartered in San Sebastián, Spain. Its specific address is Manuel Lardizabal pasealekua, 1, within the University of the Basque Country campus.

### Q: Who are the key researchers associated with the center?
A: The center is currently directed by Eneko Agirre. Other prominent researchers affiliated with the institute include German Rigau, Xabier Arregi Iparragirre, Gorka Labaka, Aitor Soroa Etxabe, Rodrigo Agerri, and Itziar Aldabe.

## Why It Matters
HiTZ zentroa plays a vital role in the technological preservation and advancement of the Basque language. By focusing on language technology, the institute ensures that Basque remains functional and relevant in the digital era. It consolidates the expertise of the Ixa Group and AhoLab, two significant entities in computational linguistics, under the umbrella of the University of the Basque Country. Its work on large-scale projects like the Euscrawl corpus and the Latxa project provides the foundational data and models necessary for modern AI and language processing tools. The institute's research contributes to both academic knowledge and practical applications in multilingual communication.

## Notable For
- **Latxa:** A significant project/thing developed by the center related to language technology.
- **Euscrawl Corpus:** A notable work providing high-quality linguistic data.
- **Institutional Integration:** Successfully merging the research efforts of the Ixa Group and AhoLab.
- **Regional Leadership:** Serving as the primary research authority for language technology in the Basque Autonomous Community.

## Body
### Origins and Governance
HiTZ zentroa was established in 2019 as an official research institute of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). The center was created through the collaboration of two established research groups: the Ixa Group and AhoLab. 

The institute's leadership transitioned in 2020 when Eneko Agirre assumed the role of director. He succeeded Arantza Diaz de Ilarraza Sanchez, a computer scientist and university teacher who served as the inaugural director from 2019 to 2020.

### Research Focus and Outputs
The institute's primary research domain is language technology. Key academic and technical staff include:
*   **German Rigau:** Researcher and computer scientist from the University of the Basque Country.
*   **Xabier Arregi Iparragirre:** Researcher specializing in Natural Language Processing.
*   **Itziar Aldabe:** Researcher focused on the digital survival of languages.
*   **Additional Researchers:** Rodrigo Agerri, Gorka Labaka, and Aitor Soroa Etxabe.

HiTZ zentroa is recognized for developing the **Euscrawl corpus** and the **Latxa** project. These works are central to the institute's mission of advancing computational linguistics in Basque, Spanish, and English.

### Facilities and Location
The center is located at Manuel Lardizabal pasealekua, 1, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain. Its geographic coordinates are 43.307147 latitude and -2.010719 longitude. The institute maintains an official web presence at hitz.eus, which provides information primarily in Basque.

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