Effective communication and dissemination are pivotal to the success of any EU research and innovation project. These activities ensure that your project’s results not only reach the right audiences but also create lasting impact. In this article, we explore ten innovative strategies that can help your project stand out, engage diverse stakeholders, and maximize its reach. From interactive webinars to targeted scientific publications, these ideas are designed to elevate your project’s visibility and ensure its outcomes resonate across various sectors. Whether you’re looking to attract industry partners, engage with the research community, or reach the general public, these strategies offer practical tips and creative approaches to achieve your goals.
“We are pleased to share some of our work and ideas that you can use to raise awareness about your project, reach various target groups and share your project’s results. These are just some examples. Many projects have done an excellent job in communicating and disseminating their results, as well as engaging the public effectively.”
Linda Kimeisa, WIT Berry communication manager
01. Interactive webinars and virtual workshops
Channels to deliver: Zoom, WebEx, Teams, Google Meet, YouTube Live.
Target Audience: Researchers, industry professionals, stakeholders, potential investors, students.
Implementation Tips:
- Engagement: Use polls, Q&A sessions, and live chat to involve the audience.
- Promotion: Promote the event well in advance through project website (dedicated landing page), social media (LinkedIn, Twitter), e-mails, e-mail campaigns and social media. Promote each speaker – professional, topics they will discuss to raise interest.
- Content: Focus on practical applications and real-world impact of your project, with downloadable resources. Create engaging presentations that do not include lots of text but rather graphics, images and videos.
- Follow-up: Share the recording and materials afterward to reach those who couldn’t attend live. Ask for evaluation of the webinar for future improvements and to get a feedback about the topics, that were the most interesting and for future webinars and workshops.
Real life example
- Horizon Europe project DEEP PPU webinar: Electric Space Propulsion – main landing page, where you can now see the links to presentations, information about the speakers, organisers etc. Before event this landing page contained also agenda and, registration form.
- Horizon Europe project CHEOPS VHP BB webinar: For start-ups and SMEs in space sector – main landing page, where you can now see the links to presentations, recorded videos, information about the speakers, organisers etc. Before event this landing page contained also agenda and, registration form
02. Infographics and visual content
Channels: Social media (Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn), project website, newsletters.
Target audience: General public, students, policy makers, journalists.
Implementation Tips:
- Design: Use clear, visually appealing graphics that simplify complex data or concepts.
- Engagement: Encourage sharing by including easy-to-understand key messages and using hashtags on social media.
- Context: Tailor the content to specific themes or milestones of the project to maintain relevance.
Real life example
03. Targeted scientific publications, articles, papers
Channels: Academic journals, research databases (ResearchGate), project website, Zenodo.
Target audience: Researchers, academic institutions, policy makers, industry experts.
Implementation Tips:
- Content: Focus on innovative findings and methodologies, and include practical implications for further research.
- Promotion: Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to promote the publication to a broader audience, e-mail newsletters, project website (news and updates or dedicated landing pages).
- Accessibility: Consider publishing in open-access journals to reach a wider audience.
Real life example
- Horizon Europe project HEPHAESTUS public results, published on Zenodo.
- Horizon Europe project HEPHAESTUS results, shared on the project’s website.
- Horizon Europe project HAlMan results, articles and papers in addition to be delivered in conferences or published, shared on the website with the links to other resources.
04. Case studies and success stories
Channels: Project website, newsletters, industry blogs, social media, press releases.
Target audience: Industry professionals, stakeholders, potential investors, policy makers.
Implementation Tips:
- Narrative: Highlight the real-world applications and benefits of the research, including challenges and solutions.
- Format: Use a mix of text, images, and short videos to make the content engaging.
- Distribution: Share case studies at relevant industry events or conferences to maximize exposure.
Real life example
- Project REVERTER case study about the Digital One-Stop-Shop published on WIT NEWS.
05. Social media campaigns
Channels: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram.
Target audience: General public, students, young professionals, industry stakeholders.
Implementation Tips:
- Content: Create a series of posts around a specific theme, using visuals, short videos, and infographics.
- Engagement: Use hashtags, polls, and challenges to encourage interaction and sharing.
- Consistency: Maintain a regular posting schedule and interact with your audience by responding to comments and messages.
Real life example
06. Project newsletters
Channels: Email, project website.
Target audience: Project partners, stakeholders, policy makers, industry contacts, researchers.
Implementation Tips:
- Content: Include project updates, upcoming events, publications, and partner spotlights, provide additional information (other resources, articles within the project’s website, dedicated landing pages).
- Design: Use a visually appealing layout with clear sections and images.
- Personalization: If possible segment your mailing list to send targeted content to different groups (e.g., industry updates vs. academic findings).
Real life example
07. Exhibitions, conferences, seminars
Channels: industry events, trade shows, conferences, seminars
Target audience: Industry professionals, potential investors, general public, policy makers.
Implementation Tips:
- Promotion: Coordinate with event organizers for broader reach and use social media to attract attendees. Promote that your project and its partners will be present at the event visa website, e-mail newsletters, social media.
- Content: if the project partners give a presentation, prepare engaging presentations, depending on the event, you might also prepare flyers, prepare videos and pictures of during this event. Publish some results, feedback after the event on the website and social media.
Real life examples
- Information about the exhibition – HEPHAESTUS project (article written after exhibition to illustrate the event and allow those who did not participate to have a glimpse into this even.
- Similar recap about the symposium of HEPHAESTUS project.
08. Educational workshops, training sessions, seminars
Channels: Online learning platforms, universities, professional networks, schools.
Target sudience: Students, young professionals, industry stakeholders, researchers.
Implementation Tips:
- Content: Develop content that helps the audience apply your project’s findings in their work or studies.
- Format: Use a mix of recorded lectures, interactive sessions, and hands-on exercises.
- Certification / attendance certificate: Offer certificates of completion to participants to increase the value and attract more attendees.
Real life examples
- International seminar was implemented by the HAlMan team, here is a short recap on the event.
- Announcement of the course that is organised by the HAlMan consortium partners to share knowledge.
09. Press releases and media outreach
Channels: Press release distribution services, project website, specialized websites
Target audience: Journalists, general public, policy makers, industry leaders.
Implementation tips:
- Content: Project kick-off, major project milestones, breakthrough findings, or significant events.
- Engagement: Include quotes from key stakeholders and links to more detailed content to provide depth and context.
Real life examples
10. Interactive online quizzes
Channels: Project website, social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), email newsletters.
Target audience: General public, young professionals, students, industry professionals.
Implementation Tips:
- Content: Develop quizzes that test knowledge on the project’s subject matter, ranging from basic concepts to more advanced topics. Tailor the difficulty to engage both novices and professionals.
- Engagement: Add an element of competition by including scoreboards or offering certificates of completion. Encourage sharing by providing social media buttons at the end of the quiz.
- Promotion: Publish the quizzes on your project website and promote them through social media channels. Use targeted ads to reach specific groups like students or professionals in relevant fields.
- Follow-up: Use the quiz results to gather insights on what topics resonate most with your audience, and consider offering further learning materials or webinars based on their interests. This can also help in building a community around your project’s themes.
Real life example
- Horizon Europe GIESEPP MP quiz that was organised to share knowledge and test knowledge. It was amazing and fun campaign with lots of participants. The answers were given by the experts in the form of video. You can still test the quiz – just for your fun! No more prizes are given. Link to GIESEPP MP quiz.
