On 22–23 September 2025, language industry professionals from across Europe and beyond gathered in Budapest, Hungary, for Networking Days 2025 — a milestone edition marking 20 years of the European Language Industry Association (ELIA). The event brought together independent consultants and company owners and teams from across the language services sector for two days of open dialogue, fresh insight, and meaningful connection.
This year’s theme, “Opportunity Knocks: Playing the AI Game,” captured both the disruption and the opportunity that artificial intelligence (AI) brings to the language industry. Attendees explored what it means to evolve in this new landscape: how to adapt business models, reposition value, and ensure technology strengthens — rather than replaces — human expertise.
The program opened with a keynote from Renato Beninatto, who encouraged participants to look beyond tools and trends and focus instead on outcomes. His message — that language service providers (LSPs) must speak the language of business results, not just translation — set the tone for the discussions that followed.
Through Networking Days’ signature small-group, no-tables roundtable format, attendees rotated through guided sessions on shifting from services to solutions, navigating client expectations around AI, re-skilling for the new era, and planning for future transitions. The setting encouraged active participation, candid debate, and collective problem-solving — allowing every voice in the room to be heard.
Beyond the sessions, the event reflected the sense of community that defines ELIA. Long-time members reconnected, new participants were warmly welcomed, and conversations flowed easily.
The event also served as the perfect occasion to celebrate ELIA’s 20th anniversary: two decades of collaboration, learning, and leadership within the language services community. The celebration came to life at a special anniversary dinner, featuring heartfelt speeches from past ELIA presidents that traced the association’s journey from its inception to today and that recognized the people and vision that have shaped its story. The evening concluded with shared moments of joy, from karaoke and cake to dancing, reflecting the community and connection that lie at the heart of ELIA’s spirit.
Participants left Budapest with more than new ideas; they carried home renewed clarity, practical strategies, and a sense of belonging to a community that continues to learn and grow together. The insights shared in Budapest will carry forward into boardrooms, teams, and strategies across the industry — and continue at ELIA’s upcoming Focus on Project Management 2025, which will take place this December.
Discover more about ELIA’s events and initiatives at elia-association.org/our-events.
