Communication, dissemination and exploitation are the three distinct obligations of any Horizon Europe project, assessed separately in the Impact section. Communication targets the general public, dissemination transfers the results to those who can use them, and exploitation means putting them into practice. Not confusing them and concrete planning for each one makes the difference in the assessment.
Are you preparing a Horizon Europe proposal or have you just won a grant? The communication, dissemination and exploitation plan is not a formality: it is scored during the evaluation and must then be implemented throughout the project. I can help you with both — from writing the proposal chapter to the execution on the ground.
The three dimensions required by the European Commission
- Communication — promoting the project to the general public and the press.
- Dissemination — transfer of results to those who can use them.
- exploitation — putting results into practice (products, services, policies).
They are different dimensions, with different audiences and goals — and confusion between them is one of the most common reasons why an otherwise good chapter loses points. I've explained the differences in detail here: Communication vs. Dissemination vs. Exploitation in Horizon Europe.
Why it matters in the evaluation
The evaluators score the communication plan and the dissemination & exploitation plan separately. A credible, concrete, and well-written plan weighs in the final score — and a vague or formal plan drags the project down, no matter how solid the scientific part.
How can I help you?
- Writing the communication & dissemination chapter from the proposal — a concrete plan, with target audience, channels, indicators and calendar.
- Execution throughout the project — press releases, events, social media, materials for partners and the public.
- Communication expert appointed to the consortium — a credible name that you can include in the proposal.
Experience
I have worked on the communication and dissemination of 7 European projects, with international experience in science communication. I know the terminology and requirements of the European Commission and I know what a plan that passes the evaluation and works in practice looks like.
Let's talk.
If you are preparing a proposal or implementing a Horizon Europe project and need a partner on the communication work package, contact me here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a communication and dissemination plan for Horizon Europe include?
A credible plan covers: target audience identified by categories (general public, researchers, industry, decision-makers), channels appropriate for each audience, activities with a clear timetable, measurable and accountable indicators (KPIs) with allocated resources. The evaluators score the communication plan and the dissemination and exploitation plan separately — both must be concrete and visible in the proposal.
How can an external expert help communicate a Horizon Europe project?
An external expert can write the communication and dissemination chapter of the proposal (with target audience, channels, KPIs and calendar), can be nominated as a communication expert in the consortium and can take over the execution throughout the project — press releases, events, materials for partners, social media and reporting to the Commission. Experience in previous European projects is a concrete advantage during the evaluation.
Why is the communication and dissemination plan important in the Horizon Europe evaluation?
Horizon Europe funds projects that not only produce results, but also bring them to those who can use them. The communication and dissemination plan is the tool through which you demonstrate that you know how to do this. A vague plan or one copied from other proposals lowers your Impact score — no matter how solid the science is.
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