Abstract

The Horizon 2020 framework program requires research projects to incorporate communication plans that cover all activities for the dissemination, communication, and exploitation of results. These must include strategic and specialized measures that identify the diversity of audiences, incorporate mechanisms for dialog with stakeholders, and establish systems for measuring results. This has changed the way in which the dissemination and scientific popularization of the projects are conceived and planned. This research analyzes the perception of Spanish experts in the design and development of competitive research projects regarding which are the most appropriate models and strategies for scientific communication. Through 22 in-depth interviews conducted with specialists from entities, companies, principal researchers, managers, evaluators, and scientific disseminators involved in H2020 projects, two dimensions of project communication are evaluated: the concept of dissemination, and the planning process. The results show that, although the dissemination activity must be carried out from the very beginning of the proposal, as an integral element of the project, the communication is only partially fulfilled, due to the instrumental nature given to it and the lack of complete planning of the actions that goes beyond the administrative fulfilment of what is requested in the calls. However, some progress can be seen thanks to the increasing professionalization of these activities and the integration of communication experts in all phases of the project.

Abstract

Companies that receive public funds for research and development and technological innovation (R&D&I) projects must comply with certain communication obligations in accordance with relevant Spanish and European laws. The aim of this work is to assess these requirements (including their advantages and limitations) based on the opinion of experts in the field. Interviews were conducted with R&D&I managers in national and regional agencies; innovation, transparency, and scientific dissemination specialists; and company directors. The results confirm the value of communicating innovation, in accordance with the current trends of innovation dissemination and the principles of transparency. Experts consider that the required communication requirements are insufficient and that their means and formats must be adapted to enhance the dissemination of innovation and improve transparency by promoting accessible content in a unified repository. They propose the measurement and assessment of the social impact of subsidized projects, as well as the possibility of subsidizing communication actions, as in European projects. Moreover, there is an urgent need to standardize the communication obligations of all proposals.