Communication Strategy: top five tips for your Horizon Europe project     

1.   Clear and Consistent Messaging

From the outset of the project, ensure there is a clear, unified message delivered through every piece of communication, from every partner. 

Alongside your consortium partners, agree on key messages that are aligned with the goals of the project, what it hopes to achieve, and its vision for Europe. By doing this, you are ensuring that all channels of communication are synchronised and presented in the same tone of voice.

Whether you are engaging with industry partners, the scientific and research community, or the general public, maintaining a unified voice and message ensures a shared understanding of the project’s scope, helps to prevent misunderstandings, and fosters a consistent stream of communication among all project partners.

2.   Tailor Communication to Different Stakeholders

Horizon Europe projects encompass a wide variety of topics and disciplines. From disaster management to the circularity of textiles, no two projects are ever the same. 

Tailoring your communication strategy goes beyond simply identifying your different audiences – it involves the creation of messages that will resonate with them and choosing formats and channels that are engaging and relevant. For example, complex findings can be transformed into attractive infographics for policy makers, project outputs can be shared in short videos, or step-by-step guides of proposed solutions can be developed for industry professionals.

Adapting your communication measure to the preferred tone, format, and level of detail that specific stakeholders require is a proactive step you can take to foster connections and improve potential buy-in of your project.

3.   Two-Way Communication

By definition, communication should never be one way. Unless you are willing to engage in open and ongoing dialogue, you will fail to fully captivate your stakeholders. 

Feedback on your project should not only be welcomed but encouraged. This can be achieved with a variety of communication tools, such as open forums, surveys, and webinars. This makes stakeholders feel that they are being listened to and that their input is appreciated, which will help to promote active participation in the project and foster a sense of true collaboration. 

Open, two-way communication isn’t just about hearing feedback - it’s about acting on it. 

4.   Share Your Progress

In Horizon Europe projects, particularly in the initial months, it’s important to embrace transparency and open communication. Whether your project is achieving great success or navigating unforeseen challenges, sharing your progress consistently and openly creates trust and builds credibility. 

Proactively promoting your project throughout its lifetime – and not just when you have achieved formal milestones – will keep stakeholders engaged and informed. Newsletters, progress reports, and social media tools are all great tools to keep your stakeholders informed and provide regular updates.

  By highlighting your achievements and acknowledging challenges honestly, you help to strengthen the credibility of the project and foster trust among your audience.       

5.   Analyse and Adapt

As with dissemination, communication in Horizon Europe projects is not a static exercise. To achieve the desired outcomes and impact of your communication, you must regularly assess the effectiveness of your strategy.

Flexibility is key. If you find that a particular communication measure is not yielding the desired results, analyse what the issue might be and adapt accordingly. For example, if you find that your engagement on social media is lacking, consider experimenting with new forms of content such as videos or infographics. Perhaps the messaging needs to be clearer – consider if your communication efforts are reaching the right stakeholders, or if the content needs to be tailored to more fully address their concerns and priorities.

If you approach communication as a dynamic exercise, with flexibility and responsiveness, you are more likely to achieve meaningful and lasting impact for your project. 

For more information on Carr Communications’ work in Horizon Europe, visit https://carrcommunications.ie/horizon-europe/