In EU proposals the words "communication", "dissemination" and "exploitation" appear together, but evaluators expect to see three different things.
Communication
Tells the wider public about the project and why it matters: website, social media, articles, video.
Dissemination
Gets the results to those who can use them: the scientific community, industry, policymakers. Timing follows the maturity of the results.
Exploitation
Is about actual use: commercial uptake, integration into policy or standards, societal applications. Commercialisation is not mandatory. Use is.
What evaluators look for
- Clear results, with a specific audience for each
- Realistic uptake pathways and partner roles
- KPIs that measure interest and adoption, not just visibility
- A plan for what continues after the project ends
Example article.