Sharing research with the world – Effective Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation in EU-funded Projects
by Stephanie Weber, European IP Helpdesk
Content & format
Excellent science needs effective communication, dissemination, and exploitation. Such a strategic and integrated outreach approach should run alongside and flank the actual research activities. Bringing research and its outcomes to the attention of non-scientific audiences, scientific peers, potential business partners or policymakers fosters collaboration and innovation. Strategic communication and dissemination will help explain the wider societal relevance of science, build support for future research and innovation funding, ensure the uptake of results within the scientific community, and open up potential business opportunities for novel products or services.
The recent example of the fight against the coronavirus has demonstrated the crucial role of research and innovation (R&I) in informing policy, making our societies resilient, and in rebuilding our economy. Valorising research results and scientific knowledge is key to delivering new responses to the challenges and opportunities the EU is facing and turning scientific knowledge into solutions that benefit the wellbeing of citizens and economic prosperity. The EU’s valorisation policy sets the overall frame for project teams funded by the EU to engage in activities aimed at communicating, disseminating, and exploiting newly generated knowledge and research results.
The training session will put a particular spotlight on the role of communication, dissemination and exploitation in maximising the impact of EU-funded (Horizon Europe) projects. It aims to clarify the terminology by illustrating the differences between the three concepts and pointing out the areas they have in common. Participants will also get an overview of key practical steps to take and consider when elaborating a sound outreach and exploitation strategy. In this regard, central aspects related to IP and innovation management will also be addressed, since they are significantly interwoven with the subject.
Learning outcomes
After the training session, participants should be able to answer the following main questions:
- Why should applicants/beneficiaries of Horizon Europe projects care about communication, dissemination and exploitation?
- What are central definitions and concepts related to communication, dissemination and exploitation in Horizon Europe? What are the distinctions, and how do they relate?
- When do communication, dissemination and exploitation come into play?
- What role do IP and innovation management play in this context?
- What are the central IP aspects to be considered?
- What are central steps in setting up a communication, dissemination and exploitation strategy?
- What are relevant and effective tools?
About Stephanie Weber
Stephanie Weber has a master’s degree in communication studies, political science and English. She gained experience in journalism and media relations, and worked as a PR consultant before joining the EU project management company Eurice – European Research & Project Office GmbH as a Communications Manager in 2011. Being a passionate outreach strategist, Stephanie is now heading the Communications team at Eurice and has been providing professional advice on science communication, dissemination and innovation management to multiple research and innovation initiatives as well as European Commission staff. In this role, she has also been running the communication activities of the European IP Helpdesk for several years and is co-author of the European IP Helpdesk guide “Successful Valorisation of Knowledge and Research Results in Horizon Europe”, published in cooperation with the European Commission. The European IP Helpdesk is a service initiative of the European Commission aiming to help (potential) beneficiaries of EU-funded projects and EU SMEs manage their Intellectual Property (IP) assets.