Communication Plan

BOA > Søknad

Horizon 2020 distinguishes between dissemination, exploitation of results and communication:

• Dissemination
  About the project results, to potentials users of the results (stakeholders like fellow scientists, industry, organisations, scientific communities in general).
• Communication
  About the project itself and the results, you have to reach out to society, including media and general audiences.
• Exploitation
  Defined as the use of the results for commercial or public stakeholders / policy design.

Concepts and measures will often overlap. Always check the specific call's demands for communication and dissemination.

Communication in proposals

Beneficiaries of Horizon 2020 funding are obliged to promote the project and the results through targeted information to selected audiences, including the general public and media. This should be done in a strategic and efficient manner and, if possible, engage in dialogue.

The application must contain communication activities, preferably as a separate work package. The activities are evaluated under the "Impact" criterion. This includes both internal communication in the project, dialogue with stakeholders / target groups and popular science dissemination of research. Activities/measures can be chosen freely to suit your project.

Start by creating a plan that facilitates communication from day one and throughout the project period. Involve several people from your project team.

Such a plan may include:

• The objective for what the project will achieve with communication, linked to the project's goals.
• List of stakeholders who are important to the project, and other target audiences for communication. Examples: important actors in business or society, authorities, or groups such as students, users, health professionals, schoolchildren, etc. Mention the general public and the media as well.
• Message: What will the project achieve, and how is it relevant to the stakeholders? The EU recommends activities addressing issues such as the importance of international cooperation, outstanding research and solving societal challenges.
• Measures and communication channels to reach stakeholders, such as:
  Websites, social media, exhibitions, media coverage, newsletters, meetings ... Customize channels and activities to the project and selected target groups. Describe each action, timing and who is responsible.
• Channels for internal communication between partners in the project, such as web pages, meetings, workshops, online calls, newsletters or the like.
• Organization and use of resources, in terms of position (s), training and budget resources must be included.

Grant Agreement Article 38.1 shows the requirements for communication in projects.

See Dissemination Plan (in Norwegian)

This page is updated by Åshild Nylund