Communication vs. Dissemination in EU-Funded Projects: What’s the Difference?

When you're working on an EU-funded or Co-funded project, especially one under Horizon Europe, you’ll often hear two buzzword

When you’re working on an EU-funded or Co-funded project, especially one under Horizon Europe, you’ll often hear two buzzwords: communication and dissemination. They might sound similar, but they serve different purposes, and both are essential to making sure your project gets the attention and impact it deserves. So, what’s the deal? Let’s break it down in a way that’s both fun and easy to understand.

The plan: It’s all about impact

Horizon Europe requires every project to have a Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication Plan. Think of it as a strategy for showing off your project to the world—getting your results out there, making sure people know about them and ensuring those results are actually useful.

Within this plan, communication and dissemination are two powerhouse activities that work together to amplify your project’s impact. The key difference? Communication tells the world about what you’re doing and why it matters, while dissemination is all about sharing the actual results with those who can use them.

Communication vs. Dissemination in EU

Communication: shouting it from the rooftops

Communication activities typically start the moment your project kicks off and run until it wraps up. The goal here is to engage a wide audience—from researchers to policymakers to the general public—and make them care about your project. Think of communication as your project’s public persona.

The tools? Websites, social media posts, newsletters, press releases, and maybe even some snazzy videos. You want people to know what you’re doing, why it’s exciting, and how it can benefit them or society at large.

Dissemination: sharing the goods

Now, dissemination is more targeted. It’s about sharing your project’s results with the people who can really use them—scientists, industry pros, and policymakers. This is where the hard data, research findings, and detailed results come into play.

If you publish a paper in a scientific journal or present at a conference, that’s dissemination in action. You’re passing on valuable information to others who can take it and run with it. But here’s the thing: dissemination doesn’t have to stay within niche circles. It can go global, and communication can help it get there.

The synergy: better together

Here’s where communication and dissemination start to blend. Say you’ve just published a ground-breaking paper (dissemination). You can use your communication channels—social media, your website, a newsletter blast—to shout about it and reach a much wider audience. Likewise, if a researcher from your project presents at a conference, you can broadcast that on your communication platforms too.

In other words, communication amplifies dissemination. They’re like a dynamic duo working together to get your results not only into the right hands but also into the public eye. That’s how you create real impact.

Read an article about some ideas for your project’s communication and dissemination activities.

Local vs. global reach

One more thing to note: Dissemination tends to have a more international focus. You’re sharing results at global conferences, in international journals, and with industry players who can apply them anywhere. However, sometimes results are shared in more specific, local settings—like a journal in one language or a regional event. But thanks to the magic of open access and digital communication, these results can still reach an international audience.

Communication, on the other hand, can be local, national, or global depending on your target. Maybe you’re focusing on engaging the public or raising awareness in a particular region, but either way, you’re spreading the word far and wide.

Wrapping it up

In short, communication and dissemination are both key to making sure your EU-funded project makes waves. Communication is about getting people excited and engaged, while dissemination is about sharing the nitty-gritty results with those who can use them. When you combine the two, you’re maximizing your project’s visibility, reach, and, most importantly, its impact.

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