European Commission: Horizon 2020

Client: Multiple EC Horizon 2020 projects, UK/Germany/Spain/France

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years. It promised and delivered more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market. EU political leaders believe that research is an investment in our future and so put it at the heart of the EU’s blueprint for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and jobs.

The challenges:
Under Horizon 2020, beneficiaries had to engage in dissemination (peer communication) and exploitation (public communication) activities. As Horizon 2020 was financed by EU citizens, work had to benefit to the largest number and the fruits of the research reach society as a whole.

Dissemination meant projects had to share research results with potential users – peers in the research field, industry, other commercial players and policymakers. By sharing research results with the rest of the scientific community, they contribute to the progress of science in general. Exploitation of projects was the use of results for commercial purposes or in public policymaking. 

Experience has taught me that to deliver on these demands was often the hardest part of the work for multiple research and industry organisations.  How to find the time and the expertise to do this work, where to find an audience?  In what form should the communications be and how to meet project goals and objectives in this area? These where the questions asked by project managers and it was my role to answer them. 

The work: 
I delivered full project dissemination and exploitation for projects during 2014 – 2020. This included detailed project planning and strategy with continuous project liaison across all project groups, ranging from academic through to industry leaders and political figures. Delivery of all research finding and results through multiple international media channels. Branding design and visual identity creation. All social media management. International event coordination and execution. 

The results: 
All projects met and excelled the EU project monitors expectations, praise was given to projects for communication activity and results and products entered the expectant market with great success.  Funding packages extended, projects evolved and off shoot projects and products were established.