Rethinking Dissemination
Despite increasing pressure for public engagement and impact reporting, many EU researchers still see project dissemination as a distraction. An obligation rather than an opportunity. Measuring ROI feels vague, time is scarce, and many institutions still undervalue communication.
But the data tells a different story.
In a survey we conducted, 39 researchers across seven EU-funded projects:
- 92% said dissemination improved their chances of securing future funding
- 95% received more collaboration invitations
- 97% saw a boost in online visibility
As one researcher from the HiDALGO2 project put it:
“Communication and dissemination has way too little attention in science.”
Dissemination isn’t optional; it’s a career amplifier. Done well, it helps researchers:
- Build a credible public profile
- Expand their networks
- Attract new funding and leadership opportunities
What Holds Researchers Back From Dissemination?
Academic and industrial researchers often face:
- Limited time for non-research tasks
- Lack of clarity on what counts as dissemination
- Difficulty measuring ROI or impact
There’s also a lingering belief that dissemination is just “showing off”. But reframed, it becomes a strategic tool, one that translates scientific results into real-world relevance, visibility, and opportunity.
Career & Funding Payoffs for Researchers
Dissemination directly benefits individual researchers, not just the project.
According to the survey:
- 97% reported improved online discoverability
- 90% received more speaking invitations
- 92% had more chances to co-author or publish
Public-facing content (webinars, blogs, videos) signals you’re more than a specialist. You’re a communicator of science. That’s increasingly rewarded by funding bodies and hiring committees alike.
Enhanced CV and Leadership Visibility
Active participation in the activities of the dissemination work package positions researchers as thought leaders, which strengthens candidacy for tenure, committee roles, or international collaborations.
Consider this testimonial from our survey:
“Future Needs is doing a very good job, and I can affirm that the dissemination activities for RefMap are very impactful for the success of the project.” – a researcher from the RefMap project.
Strategic dissemination = leadership, visibility, and funding leverage.
Academic Credibility
Publishing, presenting, and promoting your work across formats doesn’t dilute your academic standing. It reinforces it. Dissemination opens doors not only to future funding, but also to tenure, promotions, and industry partnerships.
Case Study: ImAFUSA’s Social Media Strategy Boosts Visibility
“The work on social media is particularly impressive. Also very good is teaming up with projects related to the same areas.” ImFUSA used strategic dissemination to elevate its researchers’ profiles and cross-project visibility.
The result?
Increased academic invitations, more industry dialogue, and better awareness across the aviation ecosystem.
Below are some social media posts we created for the project:
- Interview with Anna Palaiologk on urban air mobility
An excerpt from an interview with Anna Palaiologk, discussing the environmental and socio-economic impacts of urban air mobility. - How ImAFUSA is studying public acceptance of drones and air taxis
Sophia Kalakou from Iscte shares insights into ImAFUSA’s efforts to understand public perceptions of urban air mobility. - ImAFUSA 4th E-Newsletter | March 2025
The latest newsletter covers updates on the Aviation Twin Transition Cluster, upcoming events, and recent conference participations. - SAVE THE DATE! ImAFUSA’s session in the SESAR Joint Undertaking U-space Webinar Series
Announcement of ImAFUSA’s dedicated session introducing the Impact and Capacity Assessment Framework for U-space Societal Acceptance. - ImAFUSA presents at FIA2024 on drone noise perception
Antonio José Torija Martínez discusses the development of psychoacoustic models for predicting annoyance from drone noise. - ImAFUSA’s participation in the SESAR Joint Undertaking U-space Webinar Series
Details about ImAFUSA’s involvement in the webinar series, focusing on societal acceptance of urban air mobility.
Higher Discoverability
One of the most cited benefits from the survey was enhanced visibility but what does that mean in real terms?
97% of researchers reported improved Google search visibility for themselves and their projects. When someone searches your name or project, relevant results (media mentions, interviews, project updates) appear.
Event Invitations & Talks
90% received more invitations to present at conferences or expert panels, directly attributed to increased dissemination activity.
Citation Boost
82% saw an increase in citations of their work. Why? Dissemination expands your audience, beyond your immediate research community.
Long-Term Legacy
When dissemination is archived across platforms such are YouTube, ResearchGate, institutional blogs, it creates a permanent public footprint of your research journey.
A respondent from ImAFUSA highlighted the value:
“It is great to showcase how partners can deploy tech, ideas, and concepts in real-world environments.”
In short: dissemination makes your work last and more likely to be built upon.
Building Collaboration and Cross-Sector Impact
Effective dissemination builds bridges, not just buzz.
- 95% of surveyed researchers reported new collaborations
- Dissemination attracted engagement from industry, policymakers, and NGOs
Through Future Needs’ facilitation, multiple projects shared communication efforts, grew their reach and formed new alliances beyond academia.
Strategic dissemination leads to:
- Consultancy roles
- Policy influence
- Interdisciplinary projects
It moves your work from the lab into policy, products, and people’s lives, redefining your research horizon.
Measuring Dissemination Impact
Funders and institutions want evidence.
Here’s what we track (and you should too):
- Citations (Google Scholar, Scopus)
- Social media performance (reach, mentions, tags, engagement)
- Media mentions and backlinks
- Event attendance and participation
- Website traffic from dissemination sources
Quantifying dissemination outcomes helps justify investment and strengthens your case for future funding.
Why Future Needs Is the Right Dissemination Partner
Dissemination doesn’t need to compete with your research. With the right partner, it can be enhanced. Since 2020, Future Needs has been leading the dissemination work package for 10 projects, 7 of which are currently active. These projects fall under the following funding schemes: Horizon Europe, CERV, and ERDF I3 and are backed by:
- 97% of researchers reporting increased visibility
- 95% gaining new collaborations
- 92% improving future funding prospects
“You’ve pulled together an excellent team and demonstrate 10/10 in managing dissemination and exploitation activities in large projects like RefMap.” – Researcher from the RefMap project
Researchers cite Future Needs for:
- Creative execution
- Seamless collaboration
- Respect for research goals and timelines
- Turning dissemination into an asset
Our work isn’t just about metrics. It’s about making researchers feel supported in sharing their ideas with the world without burning out. It enables researchers to share breakthroughs without burning out.
Planning a Horizon Europe proposal? Don’t let dissemination be an afterthought. At Future Needs, we know what it takes to create impact. Schedule a 30-minute call to explore how we can support your proposal as a strategic dissemination partner.
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FAQ: EU Dissemination
- What counts as dissemination in an EU project?
Any activity that shares research results beyond the consortium, e.g., webinars, videos, publications, social media, press outreach. - How is dissemination different from communication or exploitation?
- Dissemination = sharing results
- Communication = raising awareness
- Exploitation = using results commercially or institutionally
- Can dissemination really help with funding?
Yes. 92% of researchers in the survey said it boosted future funding chances. - I don’t have time, what’s the solution?
Use templates, delegate to experts like Future Needs, and focus only where your input is most valuable. - How is dissemination success measured?
Citations, reach, media coverage, event turnout, and direct engagement, often included in tailored impact reports. - Can dissemination help my career progression?
Absolutely. It strengthens CVs, improves visibility, and demonstrates leadership, key for tenure and promotion. - What if my topic is too technical for public audiences?
Future Needs specialises in making complex research accessible without oversimplifying.
About the authors
Anna Palaiologk, the founder of Future Needs, is a Research & Innovation Consultant with 18 years of experience in proposal writing and project management. She has worked as a project Coordinator and Work Package leader in 30+ EU projects and has authored 50+ successful proposals. Her research background is in economics, business development and policy-making. Email Anna at anna@futureneeds.eu.
Georgia Nikolakopoulouk is Head of Dissemination at Future Needs, leading dissemination activities across 7 active EU-funded projects. With a strong background in UI/UX design and communication, she ensures effective outreach and engagement through high-quality materials and strategic planning. Georgia has contributed to more than 10 H2020 and FP7 projects in sectors including Education, Health, and Artificial Intelligence. Email Georgia at georgia@futureneeds.eu.
Egle Joneliunaite is a Communication and Dissemination Manager at Future Needs, leading social media and marketing activities for both projects and the company. She brings nearly 10 years of experience in communication and digital marketing. Passionate about sustainability, Egle also currently leads communication and dissemination efforts for the RECONMATIC project. Email Egle at egle@futureneeds.eu.
