What is dissemination and exploitation?
As a beneficiary of Horizon Europe funding, you have the legal obligation to carry out activities to increase the impact of your project results through:
- Dissemination: Sharing research results with people who can best make use of them: the scientific community, industry, commercial players, civil society and policymakers.
- Exploitation: Using results in developing, creating and marketing or improving a product, process, or service, or shaping a policy that could have a positive impact on the public's quality of life.
Why are dissemination and exploitation important?
Here are six reasons why you should share your findings and use research results:
Four ways sharing your findings can boost your research career
As a researcher, you may be facing increasing pressure and limited job security. However, by sharing your research findings with a wider audience, not only can it have a positive impact on the world beyond academia, but it can also boost your career. Here are four ways to benefit:
- Improve the relevance and quality of your research;
- Mobilise resources and support to attract new funding opportunities and collaboration;
- Unlock new professional opportunities, including in non-academic sectors, such as industry, government agencies, non-profit organisations, or private research institutions;
- Enhance your career prospects, increasing your visibility and credibility as an expert in a specific area.
Discover how the European Commission's free tools and expert advice can help you make a greater impact and advance your career.
How to disseminate and exploit research results?
Here are six ways to help you share your findings with a broader audience, and empower not only fellow researchers, but also industry, policymakers and civil society.
The complementary role of communication
Communication is about making your project, your activities, and results visible. Communication activities are also a requirement of the grant agreement.
Check out our Guide on communication, dissemination and exploitation to better understand the differences between these three concepts and get acquainted with the different European Commission tools that can support your project.
Free-of-charge dissemination and exploitation services
- Open research Europe platform
An open access, publishing platform for scientific papers for Horizon Europe beneficiaries, including an open peer review and article revision.
- Horizon results platform
A platform for showcasing your research results, finding collaboration opportunities and getting inspired by the results of others. The Horizon Results Platform TV provides additional support, including testimonials and interviews from project participants that have succeeded as entrepreneurs.
- Horizon results booster
Free consulting services including a portfolio dissemination and exploitation strategy, business plan development and go-to-market support.
- Horizon Standardisation Booster
A dedicated support service for Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 projects to increase and valorise your project results through standardisation.
- Innovation radar
An initiative that strengthens connections between EU-funded innovators, European investors, and policymakers in member states to help high-potential innovations to reach the market.
What to do when non-Commission publishing houses approach you?
You might be approached by publishers who offer expensive services for publishing a research article. They might claim that they work for or with the European Commission and that the fees can be recovered through your grant as 'eligible costs'.
Please note that we will always inform you if a contractor genuinely working for the European Commission is to contact you. Legitimate contractors do not charge any fees to the beneficiaries.
If you need further advice on the matter, please contact your Project Officer.