Tag: COMMFABNET

Building the bioeconomy – creating impact through communication

The seeds of the CommNet network were sown in 2005 when a number of those involved in the dissemination of Framework 6-funded projects in food-related areas formed an informal network to discuss their activities and share best practice. The network tried to deal with many of the challenges faced by those aiming to get the results of EU research out to relevant stakeholders.

As the value of such a network in helping to support communicators was recognised, the CommFABnet project began in 2012 to continue the CommNet network, broadening the reach to cover projects funded under framework programmes 6 and 7 in the KBBE (Knowledge-Based Bioeconomy) areas of food, fisheries, forestry, agriculture and biotechnology. The aim of the project was to facilitate the communication

of EU Bioeconomy research to the general public and to key target groups including: media, young people, industry and policy makers.

The CommNet network, as part of the CommFABnet project, included project members, individual members from EU-funded projects and subscribers, who received updates and newsletters after signing up on the project website www.commnet.eu.

The CommNet networks have been key to the success of the CommFABnet project.

Projects in the network were offered a range of services when they joined: free communications training courses; support with communicating to the general public, to industry and policy makers and to children and young people. Further details of the activities and achievements in these areas are provided later in this report.

COMMFABNET – Communication of Food, Fisheries, Agriculture and Biotechnologies research – a network to support EU-funded research projects

COMMFABNET – Communication of Food, Fisheries, Agriculture and Biotechnologies research – a network to support EU-funded research projects

The effective communication of research results of EC funded research projects to end users is hampered by a number of factors including

  • Lack of confidence and communication skills within the scientific community
  • Inherent difficulties in effectively reaching out to the media and other multipliers with research results

Poor dissemination of research results significantly reduces the potential project impact on European competitiveness and the quality of life of EU citizens.

CommFABnet addresses these challenges in the FP6 Food Quality and Safety and FP7 KBBE programmes with an innovative range of activities to

  • establish a large network of communication managers
  • identify and exchange best practice in the communication of research results to target groups
  • provide training to scientists in communicating research results
  • address target audiences including the general public, SMEs, policy makers and young people

CommFABnet comprises a consortium of organisations expert in the effective communication and dissemination of research results who demonstrate essential complementarity in successfully reaching different target groups. CommFABnet is led by Karolinska Institutet who has initiated and maintained the informal CommNet network of communication managers in the food safety research since 2006. This highly relevant experience will be fully exploited in the design and implementation of CommFABnet’s activities.

CommFABnet will increase and channel the information flow from research projects towards the target groups. The exchange of best practice and training events for the CommFABnet network of communication officers and managers will result in a European community of communication managers highly proficient in the effective communication of research results to a range of target groups and other stakeholders. The result will be a significantly enhanced impact of the research results on European competitiveness and on the quality of life of EU citizens.

  • Grant Agreement ID
    289699
  • Call Topic
    FP7-KBBE
  • Project Website
  • Duration
    From: 2012-01-01
    To: 2014-12-31
  • Overall Budget
    2 234 479,10 €
  • Coordinator
    YOURIS.COM

PROJECT CONTENTS

Building the bioeconomy – creating impact through communication
The seeds of the CommNet network were sown in 2005 when a number of those involved in the dissemination of
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Know your food
Based on the development work, the following resources were developed for the current toolkit: Teachers’ guides (one for each of
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