Post on 30-Jun-2020
This project has received funding from the Bio Based
Industries Joint Undertaking under the European
Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 792221.
Deliverable 6.2.
Communication,
Dissemination &
Exploitation Plan
Acronym: ICTICTICTICT----BIOCHAINBIOCHAINBIOCHAINBIOCHAIN
Project title: ICT Tools in Efficient Biomass Supply Chains for Sustainable ICT Tools in Efficient Biomass Supply Chains for Sustainable ICT Tools in Efficient Biomass Supply Chains for Sustainable ICT Tools in Efficient Biomass Supply Chains for Sustainable
Chemical Chemical Chemical Chemical ProductionProductionProductionProduction
Contract Nº: 792221792221792221792221
Start date: 06/201806/201806/201806/2018
Duration: 24 Months24 Months24 Months24 Months
Deliverable number D6.2
Deliverable title Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
Submission due date M6 – October 2018
Actual submission date 10/2018
Work Package WP6
WP Lead Beneficiary SIE
Dissemination Level Public
Version 03
Authors Lorena BODEGAS, Sustainable Communication
Manager
Jesús SERRANO, Sustainability and Innovation Manager
Ref. Ares(2019)6653103 - 28/10/2019
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
Page 2 of 41
DOCUMENT CONTROL PAGE
Author(s) Lorena BODEGAS, Sustainable Communication Manager
Jesús SERRANO, Sustainability and Innovation Manager
Version
history
#### ReviewerReviewerReviewerReviewer CommentsCommentsCommentsComments
00 SIE Document creation
01 Coordinator Document revised by CAPDER
02 Project
Officer
Document submitted to the EU Portal
Comments
This deliverable must be submitted again, in order to adapt it to the
template of the ICT-BIOCHAIN project
Status Draft
X FINAL
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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Executive Summary
The aim of Work Package 6 ‘Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation Activities’
is to attain a wide audience reach and high level of interest in the promotion of the ICT-
BIOCHAIN project and its results. Together, consortium partners work to create
awareness, demonstrating the inherent value of the project in its application and
replication. All project partners have an important role to play in the successful
communication of the ICT-BIOCHAIN project.
D6.2 begins by defining the approach to communications and dissemination. It
describes our business needs, ‘SMART’ objectives, target audiences and the related key
messages we want them to receive, and the best tactics, channels, and timeframe to
use in order to reach them.
This deliverable outlines the methodology, strategy, tools, and production schedule we
have chosen for ICT-BIOCHAIN’s communication. In addition, we address the
exploitation plan and route that will be implemented to ensure significant engagement
with key stakeholders as we set our sights on the uptake of our project as a model for
future DiH developments across Europe’s biomass supply chains.
Lastly, the authors detail the clear targets and measurements that will be used to
determine the effectiveness of our initial plan. We have built into this design the
possibility to take corrective measures to assure successful communication and
dissemination if we see a need for improvements in order to meet the ambitious goals
set before us. Already, we are encouraged as a project team to see the involvement and
commitment demonstrated by all partners in the project, and we are confident in our
collaboration during the project’s 24 months and beyond.
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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Contents
Executive Executive Executive Executive SummarySummarySummarySummary ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3333
Acronyms and abbreviationsAcronyms and abbreviationsAcronyms and abbreviationsAcronyms and abbreviations .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6666
FiguresFiguresFiguresFigures ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6666
TablesTablesTablesTables ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6666
1.1.1.1. IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7777
2.2.2.2. Communication and Dissemination MethodologyCommunication and Dissemination MethodologyCommunication and Dissemination MethodologyCommunication and Dissemination Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8888
2.1. Applying strategic and tactical communication methods in EU Projects ................ 8
2.2. The 7 steps of a strategic planning process ............................................................. 9
2.3. Exploitation Integration Model ................................................................................. 9
2.4. Internal Communication – Project Members ........................................................ 10
3.3.3.3. Communication and Dissemination Communication and Dissemination Communication and Dissemination Communication and Dissemination StrategyStrategyStrategyStrategy ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11111111
3.1. Business Needs ......................................................................................................... 11
3.2. ‘SMART’ Objectives................................................................................................... 12
3.3. Measurements .......................................................................................................... 13
3.4. Audience & Messages .............................................................................................. 14
3.5. Tactics........................................................................................................................ 17
3.6. Timeframe ................................................................................................................. 18
4.4.4.4. Communication and Dissemination ToolsCommunication and Dissemination ToolsCommunication and Dissemination ToolsCommunication and Dissemination Tools ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20202020
4.1. Website ..................................................................................................................... 20
4.2 Project Branding / Visual Identity ............................................................................. 22
4.3 Flyer ............................................................................................................................ 22
4.4 Email ........................................................................................................................... 22
4.5 Video .......................................................................................................................... 23
4.6 e-newsletters ............................................................................................................. 23
4.7 Social Media ............................................................................................................... 24
4.8 Scientific Journals and Trade Publications ............................................................... 25
4.9 Events ......................................................................................................................... 26
5. Exploitation Plan5. Exploitation Plan5. Exploitation Plan5. Exploitation Plan ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27272727
5.1 Innovation Objectives of ICT-BIOCHAIN Project ...................................................... 27
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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5.2 Exploitable Results and Exploitation Routes ............................................................ 29
5.2.1 ICT-BIOCHAIN Platform ...................................................................................... 29
5.2.2 DIH Within Ready-made Test Bed Bio-Economy Regions ................................ 29
5.2.3 DIH Design and Implementation Roadmap ....................................................... 30
5.2.4 Recommendations for a Demand-driven European Research Agenda for
Digitizing the Bio-Based Economy ............................................................................... 31
6.6.6.6. Production Timeline: Project Deliverables & Communication ActivitiesProduction Timeline: Project Deliverables & Communication ActivitiesProduction Timeline: Project Deliverables & Communication ActivitiesProduction Timeline: Project Deliverables & Communication Activities ............................................................................ 31313131
7. References7. References7. References7. References ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32323232
8. Annexes8. Annexes8. Annexes8. Annexes ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 33333333
Annex A. Key Exploitable Results Questionnaire ........................................................... 33
Annex B. Stakeholder Curation Template ...................................................................... 37
Annex C. Publications Tables .......................................................................................... 38
Annex D. Communication Matrix .................................................................................... 39
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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Acronyms and abbreviations
DiHDiHDiHDiH Digital InnovaIon Hub
EUEUEUEU European Union
ICTICTICTICT InformaIon and CommunicaIon
Technology
IoTIoTIoTIoT Internet of Things
BSCBSCBSCBSC Biomass Supply Chain
MTMTMTMT Million Tonnes
GDPRGDPRGDPRGDPR General Data ProtecIon RegulaIon
Figures
Figure 1. Strategic Planning Process ..................................................................................... 9
Figure 2. Exploitation Integration Model ........................................................................... 10
Figure 3. Project website ..................................................................................................... 21
Figure 4. Branding lines ....................................................................................................... 22
Figure 5. Screen capture of the first Newsletter (M6) ...................................................... 23
Figure 6. Social media channels .......................................................................................... 24
Figure 7. Concept of Digital Innovation Hub (TNO, 2017) ................................................. 30
Tables
Table 1. Action Plan to Trigger Stakeholders: Feel, Know, and Do ................................... 12
Table 2. Measurement Metrics........................................................................................... 13
Table 3. Communication & Dissemination KPI .................................................................. 14
Table 4. Stakeholder Mapping of Target Groups .............................................................. 15
Table 5. 5W’s Tactics ........................................................................................................... 17
Table 6. Events to promote ICT-BIOCHAIN ........................................................................ 26
Table 7. EU Feedstock demand for the Bio-based Economy (USDA, 2015) ..................... 28
Table 8. Exploitable Results ................................................................................................ 28
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1. Introduction
This report is composed of two major parts: 1) The Communication and Dissemination
Plan; 2) The Exploitation Plan. The Communication and Dissemination Plan for the ICT-
BIOCHAIN project describes the means to ensure that project activities and outcomes
are communicated effectively in the project lifespan and beyond. The following
Dissemination and Communication Plan has been produced based on the indications
given in the Grant Agreement section 2.2.3 "communication activities” as an extension
of the initial dissemination and communication plan developed during the proposal
execution. The Exploitation Plan, on the other hand, focuses on describing the key
exploitation results that will be generated during the project lifetime and the potential
exploitation routes how the involved partners can exploit them after the end of the
project.
CONSORTIUM INVOLVEMENT CONSORTIUM INVOLVEMENT CONSORTIUM INVOLVEMENT CONSORTIUM INVOLVEMENT
The current plan will be further detailed, updated and agreed by all partners
periodically with a formalised planning document of project results developed once the
intellectual property has been protected. While the dissemination activities will be
coordinated by SIE as both task leader and WP Leader, it is expected that all partners
will contribute throughout the project. Similarly, for an exploitation plan, it is important
for the partners to have two-way communication with SIE to co-identify the most
suitable exploitation routes and strategy to successfully and effectively exploit the
results.
Various metrics will be used to gauge the effectiveness of the dissemination activities,
the results of which will be presented in the periodic reporting. This document includes
a description of the dissemination strategy and processes for ICT-BIOCHAIN activities
and outcomes, including defining key messages, target audience groups, and tools and
channels. Several dissemination tools and channels will be used, including a project
website, videos, newsletters, scientific papers and leaflets, social media, and
participation in workshops/conferences. The timeline for these outputs is intertwined
with the deliverables from the overall Work Package 6.
This plan is a working document specifying the approach and activities outlined in the
project’s Grant Agreement. It will be supplemented with the input and achievements of
all partners and be reviewed and updated at regular intervals thereafter (every six
months) for the Dissemination and Communication plan as a permanent agenda item
for the Work Package 6 meetings while more details how exploit the result(s) will be
further elaborated in the Deliverable 6.10 Definition of ICT-BIOCHAIN Platform Business
Models Strategies due at month 12 to continuously improve project notoriety, reach,
and impact.
ICTICTICTICT----BIOCHAIN COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION & EXPLOITATION PLAN GOALSBIOCHAIN COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION & EXPLOITATION PLAN GOALSBIOCHAIN COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION & EXPLOITATION PLAN GOALSBIOCHAIN COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION & EXPLOITATION PLAN GOALS
For Communication and Dissemination Plan:
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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A) Raise awareness with respect to ICTBIOCHAIN activities,
outputs, and benefits arising from the project amongst selected Target Groups within
the industry value chain, including related research groups and key users;
B) Increase the willingness of target groups to make use of the project´s outputs;
C) Support the design and implementation of the Exploitation Plan for the ICT-BIOCHAIN
results.
For Exploitation Plan:
A) Maximize the exploitation of the project results using ICT, IoT and Industry
4.0 tools for improving biomass supply chains
2. Communication and Dissemination
Methodology
To broaden our reach and accelerate the uptake of the ICT-BIOCHAIN project and its
results, this plan is our road map for getting messages delivered to our audience in a
timely manner using the most appropriate channels.
Moreover, for cohesive, harmonious, and transparent planning and execution, it is an
essential tool for ensuring our consortium sends clear, specific messages with
measurable results. All members of the consortium are invited not only to review this
document but to contribute to it with their respective know-how. As illustrated by the
very concept of ICT-BIOCHAIN, ideas are the currency of today. We value input from all
partners and supervisory organisations such as the project advisory board, the BBI-JU,
and the European Commission, as we work towards the singular goal: a successful
example of technology serving the bio-economy supply chain.
ICT-BIOCHAIN’s Communications are phased into three parts:
2.1. Applying strategic and tactical communication methods in
EU Projects
Increasingly, we have remarked the desire for more deliberate and meaningful
communication approaches in Work Packages related to Communication,
Dissemination, and Exploitation. There are two commonly deployed approaches in
organizational communications: strategic and tactical. The tactical communication
approach focuses on producing output and aims to deliver what consortiums have
traditionally requested: a list of deliverables. Tactical approaches can be efficient, but
they are reactive and may be limited to the short-term scope of a project lifespan. The
Initial Awareness Strategic Formulation Exploitation
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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strategic approach is focussed on achieving the desired
outcomes and aims to deliver what the consortium needs; it is planned and longer-term
to extend beyond the life of the project.
We present the following plan as a hybrid of both approaches. We are mindful of the
Grant Agreement and proposal’s amendments that have already projected a list of
deliverables. However, as the project progresses, new needs will be identified, and
opportunities will exist that could not be anticipated. We must, therefore, plan for the
longevity of the technology and the applications of the project.
2.2. The 7 steps of a strategic planning process
The development of this plan will continue to follow an iterative strategic planning
process as proposed in the Melcrum Internal Communications Black Belt programme.
Figure 1. Strategic Planning Process
2.3. Exploitation Integration Model
Exploitation objectives are tied to the C&D Plan to facilitate the advancement of project
objectives.
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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Figure 2. Exploitation Integration Model
2.4. Internal Communication – Project Members
The communication activities within the project are both periodic (management group
meetings, newsletters, project group meetings and reporting to the commission) and
online (i.e. a project share point site). Effective internal communication is key to
sharing information and ensuring that the deliverables are met. Therefore, regular face-
to-face meetings and conference calls will take place to exchange project information,
update progress, and share results. Consortium and technical meetings will take place
every six months, while Skype and/or teleconferencing services will be used to facilitate
collaboration within WPs.
Beginning in M12, once a month a conference call for WP6 will be held to plan
upcoming dissemination and communication activities and events to update the
Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation Plan and streamline the content
curation process. This will allow the partners to take a more focused and systematic
approach, strengthening actions taken to communicate and report on the project.
Consortium partners responsible for the communication of ICT-BIOCHAIN will attend
this meeting.
Content Management System: For internal dissemination purposes, consortium
partners will have access to a password-protected site which will contain the proposal,
consortium agreement, grant agreement, budget, deliverables, periodic reports,
meeting and workshop reports and other relevant documents. The site will also be used
for communication purposes between the different groups of the consortium, including
preparation of interim and final reports, dissemination of joint project results and
teleconferences. Dedicated login for ICT-BIOCHAIN members can be accessed on the
project website: https://ictbiochain.eu/private-area/
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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PROFESSIONAL NETWORKSPROFESSIONAL NETWORKSPROFESSIONAL NETWORKSPROFESSIONAL NETWORKS
Critical to the effective dissemination is making sure that there are connections with key
stakeholders, by building and maintaining appropriate networks. All consortium
partners will reach out to their professional networks and connect with relevant
organisations and professionals, requesting them to share information about ongoing
developments and recommend the ICT-BIOCHAIN project to their audiences. Such
endorsement can have a great impact on project dissemination, offering the possibility
for wider acceptance of the technological benefits of ICT solutions and faster adoption
of such tools in biobased supply chain management.
The geographic coverage of the Consortium members, who have networks across
Europe, will ensure far-reaching and systematic dissemination. Each partner of the ICT-
BIOCHAIN project will be actively involved in the dissemination activities of the project,
which will enhance the sustainability of the project results. They will also assist in
translating any dissemination and communication materials into the local languages
where the data hubs are located.
The ICT-BIOCHAIN project addresses a wide range of stakeholders and audiences, each
requiring appropriate tailored information. Each outreach task will be carefully designed
to have the maximum chance of reaching the audiences concerned. Annex. 1 provides
an indication of which communication tools and channels are best suited to the various
target audiences.
GDPR NOTICEGDPR NOTICEGDPR NOTICEGDPR NOTICE
The General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) is a regulation in EU law on
data protection and privacy for all individuals within the European Union and the
European Economic Area. It is understood that with the new GDPR having taken effect
May 2017, ICT-BIOCHAIN project cannot collect or retain private personal information
without explicit consent. The consortium also may not share their related contacts
without the related permissions granted by the individual.
3. Communication and Dissemination Strategy
3.1. Business Needs
We begin this process by stating the business needs. While these projects are publicly
funded, they are still subject to the same principles of professional planning and
operational excellence in business.
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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• Bridging Statement: It is our desire to demonstrate that the innovation being
developed in the frame of the BBI JU is creating a clear path and competitive
advantage for the European Bioeconomy in the future.
• Aim: We want to ensure that the growing demand for biomass in Europe can be met
by local supply. This is the overall achievement we are targeting.
• Reality: ICT-Biochain has the confidence of the European Commission who has
provided funding. The consortium is complete with members from all aspects of
the project from ICT to agribusiness to assure the successful creation and
implementation of the Digital Innovation Hubs (DiH).
• Opportunities: Illustrating the “ICT-BIOCHAIN story” will make the biggest impact.
Using communication to impact hearts and minds, we will build a narrative where
the conceptual concepts of digitalisation and sector-specific industrial notions of
supply-chain become tangible to a real person. We will use communications to paint
the picture of the end-user and the lifecycle of the ICT-BIOCHAIN DiH.
• Risks: Certain communication tools, social media, carry the stigma of frivolous time-
wasting activity. Many people in the academic and scientific sectors are reluctant to
engage with it due to lack of time and not seeing the benefits of using it in a
professional context. Other barriers include concerns around copyright and legal
issues, different research discipline cultures, or personal barriers such as the fear of
appearing unprofessional, posting something wrong or being misunderstood, or a
lack of confidence in their communication skills.
3.2. ‘SMART’ Objectives
Setting SMART Objectives allows us to set objectives that are: Specific, Measurable,
Achievable, Realistic, & Timely. The result of which tells us what we want people in our
stakeholder groups to FEEL, KNOW, and DO. This exercise should be revised at each
phase of the communication and dissemination rollout.
Table 1. Action Plan to Trigger Stakeholders: Feel, Know, and Do
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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This mapping can be applied to individual stakeholders, too, as the project advances.
For example, consumers are becoming more informed of the environmental impact of
industrial production demanding more efficient processes to reduce waste. By engaging
the general population, ICT-BIOCHAIN aims to inform a broader European public about
the project results, thereby facilitating industry acceptance of the technology and in the
most optimistic scenario, creating a bottom-up demand for the developed DiH solution
to serve from C-to-B, then B-to-B, by appealing to the ecology, economics, and
abundance of biomass as an alternative to traditional raw materials.
Objective Setting Example: Public
We want this group to feel concerned about the use of biobased products and sourcing of
biomass. We will work to inform them about the ecological and societal impacts of favouring a
biomass supply chain 100% in Europe. The call to action will focus on consumer vigilance
(buying local and bio-based) and spreading awareness about new end-user markets including
advocacy with their policymakers for the environmental stewardship and economics for new
job opportunities of incorporating a DiH and granting the public access.
3.3. Measurements
Key Performance Indicators provide credibility to our stakeholders with real data which
allow us to check progress of the plan and see how it is being received. This feedback
facilitates modifications and improvements to the plan. Metrics also need to offer the
correct mix of measurements:
Table 2. Measurement Metrics
QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE OBSERVATIONAL
how many, what? how and why? What, how many, why?
FEEL KNOW DO
attitudes about the project levels of knowledge behaviours and actions
Interested and engaged in the
project, concerned for the
planet’s natural resources,
attached to local resources
and activities
Digitalisation can help
accelerate adoption of new
technologies and democratize
end-user access to best
practice knowledge for
improved supply-chain
biomass management
Follow us the project on social
media, sign up for our
newsletter.
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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Table 3. Communication & Dissemination KPI
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TARGET
Project website and social media 5 000 visitors; 1 000 connections
Newsletter and media (i.e. press releases,
video)
2 000 readers/newsletter; 40 communication
channels used
Project Flyers 2 500 copies distributed
DiHs & “train-the-trainer” workshops 600 attendees
Scientific publications 3 “papers” sent to scientific publications or
journals
Conferences and industrial fairs 10 events of interest
3.4. Audience & Messages
To generate a stakeholder map, the project team aims to capture relevant stakeholders
from the following categories: biobased chemicals, biobased materials, food & feed
ingredients, bioenergy and innovation services (ICT, Industry 4.0), amongst other supply
chain actors.
In a level of secondary importance, we will continuously identify investors, SMEs, start-
ups, about-to-be start-ups, scale-ups, large companies, as well as organisations offering
relevant innovation services such as scale-up trials, application testing, business plan
writing, feedstock analysis, life cycle assessment, social acceptance, and so on, with
whom we aim to share our project progress and results. By extending our respective
networks, we will accelerate dissemination with more strategic communication tools
and a targeted exploitation framework. A sample list is provided in Annex A. which will
be complemented by ICT-BIOCHAIN Partners and updated throughout the project.
HIGHHIGHHIGHHIGH----LEVEL MESSAGES: ICTLEVEL MESSAGES: ICTLEVEL MESSAGES: ICTLEVEL MESSAGES: ICT----BIOCHAINBIOCHAINBIOCHAINBIOCHAIN
At the project kick-off meeting in June 2018 in Brussels, consortium members
brainstormed about the high-level messages that we aim to communicate to our
various stakeholders. This exercise is valuable for helping partners demonstrate the
consortium’s alignment in defining the attributes for ICT-BIOCHAIN. Attributes refer to
what we want people to understand and say about the project, once they have
interacted with information or a particular communication.
These signposts for communication campaigns have been summarised below.
ICTICTICTICT----BIOCHAIN…BIOCHAIN…BIOCHAIN…BIOCHAIN…
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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“… provides the digitalization of biomass supply chains using the
advantages of innovation tools and technologies.”
“… will increase the availability of sustainable biomass and positively influence supply
and demand of biomass.”
“… will demonstrate the benefits of ICT & IoT technologies in bioeconomy sector, paving
the way for other countries to follow suit.”
“… will demonstrate that ICT improves the efficiency of supply chains and stakeholder
knowledge.”
“… will provide the tools to identify bioresource flows and opportunities for the
development of biobased operations in Europe.”
“… will foster transparency and cooperation as actors in Biomass Supply Chain (BSC)
collaborate in a transnational effort.”
“… will permit common understanding about ICT, IoT, and Industry 4.0 solutions and
best practices as applied to BSC.”
These attributes help us identify with whom we wish to communicate. What people
know, feel, or do, will depend on their position, perspective and interpretation of a
message. Understanding the levers that motivate each stakeholder instruct which
channels are most appropriate to use in spreading our message for the mobilisation of
biomass across Europe.
Table 4. Stakeholder Mapping of Target Groups
TYPE OF AUDIENCE MESSAGING LEVERS
ICT Technology developers such as
industrial bioproducts developers,
Innovation brokers and investors;
Local authorities & public bodies from
other regions interested in
implementing DiH
Business approach, economic advantages
Biomass has already proven itself as a reliable way to
generate electricity and deliver predictable recurring income
to its operators but is at an early stage of development in
parts of Europe. With a long-term political and regulatory
framework in place to support the rapid expansion of
renewable energy, there are exciting investment
opportunities, and information technology accelerates
knowledge sharing, operational improvements, and increases
access. Laws and regulation compliance, incentive policies,
applications and ROI. Economic advantages for green jobs.
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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Public organisations interested both in
the ICT-BIOCHAIN innovations as well
as the biomass mobilisation strategies
and management; Standardisation
bodies such as waste management
authorities, Biomass manufacturers
and processors, bioplastics processors
Methodology to improve collection and treatment to ensure
recovery, recycling, and reusing process
Strategies of many EU countries assume the future use of non-
EU sourced biomass. We must consider alternative options,
principally to better utilise indigenous resources and biomass
waste resources (including agricultural residues) to
supplement the bioenergy sector.
Biomass suppliers: agriculture
groups, farmers, industry associations,
large companies, SMEs, bio industrials,
industry groups, bioeconomy
investors, supply chain managers, etc.
Revolutionize the competitivity of farmers and biomass
owners
Better knowledge empowers stakeholders in a biobased
supply chain and opens new markets thanks to new business
opportunities, environmental and social awareness, and the
benefits of adopting ICT, IoT and Industry 4.0 tools for
biomass supply chain.
Media, communicators, and
journalists
Important role to educate
Industry, the market, and consumers appreciate the ‘neutral
position’ of media who make audiences aware of new
methods and products of the bio-based circular economy.
They create awareness of the project progress and results and
amplify outreach of project results to all other audiences.
General Public What is better for consumers?
Understanding their place in the supply chain, public citizens
will support biobased supply chains increasing sustainable
futures for local businesses, ecologically responsible, and
socially responsible job creation.
European Policy Makers European society will benefit from improving biomass supply
chains.
European framework for bio-based products and standards
for bio-based products; different partners are active in
relevant research and policy-making activities at the level of
central national and/or regional government, which will
significantly boost local knowledge transfer, particularly in the
designated test-bed regions.
The European Commission Results from the project will be useful to the continued
advancement of the EU objectives towards a bioeconomy.
Shared via the periodic reporting of the project (mid-term
review, minutes of periodical meetings, updates of this
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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document) to modify related regulations if necessary and to
propose collaboration with other ongoing projects on
dissemination activities.
ICT-BIOCHAIN will equally disseminate and promote the results of the project to key
stakeholders. These include representatives from:
• Event organisations with a broad audience, for the private, public and domestic
sector;
• Academic Community;
• Associations & consortia from other funded projects on industrial processes;
• Innovation related initiatives, such as the BBI & BBI-JU where the project aims to
create impact.
3.5. Tactics
Tactics are the channels or tools we will employ to transmit messages to our audience.
In our case, many have been defined in the Proposal Phase [REF: Ares(2018)2075069 –
18/04/2018].
In the first half of the project (M1-12), communication will focus on the notoriety phase
with general messages explaining the environmental and political context why these
technologies are needed and the potential benefits of DiH that are being developed. As
the project progresses, the messages will shift to focus on the project’s progress and
achievements. For each project result that is marked for public dissemination, a tailored
outreach activity will be designed for the relevant target audiences listed later. To
determine the most appropriate tactic, we use “The 5W’s”:
Table 5. 5W’s Tactics
The 5 Ws Linked to… Questions to ask
Weight Business Needs How important is this issue for the Project?
How much will this affect the delivery of our project?
How much time should be invested in associated tactics?
Why Communication
Objectives
Which approaches will affect KNOW (build awareness, understanding)
FEEL (influence feelings and attitudes) and DO (inspire action and
behavioural change)?
Who Audiences/
Stakeholders
What do I know about my audience/s?
What channel will best reach them?
Who do they trust?
What Messages How can I make the messages stand out?
What tactics will help people remember them?
When Activity Outline Towards what deadlines and milestones are I working?
How much time do I have to develop and implement tactics?
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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While the full description, including the timeframe and the target
audiences, can be found in the dedicated sections hereafter, the main communication
activities can be summed up as followed:
• Online Media:Online Media:Online Media:Online Media: the project website and social media channels will be the main
information resources of the project, providing an overview of project objectives,
consortium members, project progress, dissemination actions and results available
to a public audience.
• Dissemination tools:Dissemination tools:Dissemination tools:Dissemination tools: leaflets, newsletters, press releases, videos, papers in scientific
journals, and other “news” items will be used to share project progress and increase
awareness and strategic formulation as many supports will be dedicated to a
specific target group.
• FacFacFacFaceeee----totototo----face interactions & the ICTface interactions & the ICTface interactions & the ICTface interactions & the ICT----BIOCHAIN Platform:BIOCHAIN Platform:BIOCHAIN Platform:BIOCHAIN Platform: ICT-BIOCHAIN will interact
directly with stakeholders to promote the project results at relevant International,
EU and national events with a special focus on the train the trainer workshops,
networking events, and the final conference. These opportunities include industry
symposiums, exhibitions, and trade fairs. This will facilitate timely exchanges with
relevant end-users and their associations, scheme planners and decision-makers.
These activities are primarily dedicated to the exploitation phase.
3.6. Timeframe
The timeframe determines what we do and when and defines roles and responsibilities.
It will also allow for periods for measurement and review and modification of the plan if
required
ICT-BIOCHAIN’s communication is segmented into three phases:
PHASE 1: M1PHASE 1: M1PHASE 1: M1PHASE 1: M1----M6M6M6M6
In the first phase of the project, the project communication activities focused on
building “Initial Awareness” of the ICT-BIOCHAIN project goals. Public deliverables were
made available for dissemination via the project’s communication channels. In
collaboration with project partners, SIE will continue to fine-tune key messages and
highlight interesting findings in short, easy-to-read articles that will be posted on the
project website. The communication of the project outcomes will be further supported
by social media campaigns to generate traffic to the ICT-BIOCHAIN website. Already,
the project has benefitted from excellent exposure through the strong social presence
and early deliverables in an accelerated timeline, including the website and the first
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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video, bot delivered in M3. In addition to the online
presence, there has been early participation by partners in some European bioeconomy
events where ICT BIOCHAIN has been promoted. Examples include: Bioeconomy Ireland
Day (October 2018) and Biospain (September 2018), where the partners, especially the
Model Demonstration Regions, promoted ICT BIOCHAIN with a stand, flyers,
presentations, etc., with the assistants, companies and other bioeconomy projects.
Going forward, additional efforts must be made for inter-project collaboration as well.
All project members are to assure that their corporate communications, public
relations, or similar department is aware of the project. If the partner company has a
social media account, it is requested that they follow the project’s LinkedIn and Twitter
accounts. It is also requested that individual professional social media accounts share
the project’s news, videos, and posts to build a network of interested parties. This
distribution method is to accelerate further the spread of our targeted campaign
messages. During this phase, we will curate a list of multipliers and other stakeholders
who will assist with the distribution strategy.
PHASE 2: M6 PHASE 2: M6 PHASE 2: M6 PHASE 2: M6 –––– M18 M18 M18 M18
“Strategic Formulation” refers to the second phase when the timeline of
communication and dissemination activities will be strongly correlated to the
deliverable timeline. It is expected that communication of the deliverable on the
website and social media will take place the month after the deliverable deadline.
Announcements on social media will be synchronised with updates on the project
progress and activities on the project website as they occur, intending to redirect the
users to the website as the main communication and dissemination platform.
In addition to the social media support, consortium partners are requested to
disseminate other tactics produced by the project, especially the newsletters, press
releases, and the events calendars. We cannot compromise the privacy of the
members of the partners’ communities, but materials will be provided in a shareable
format uploaded onto the shared project workspace. An email notification will advise
that there is new material to share.
PHASE 3: M18 PHASE 3: M18 PHASE 3: M18 PHASE 3: M18 –––– M24 M24 M24 M24
“Exploitation” addresses the final months of the project when peaks in the timeline of
communication activities will correlate with the public deliverables and events where
target audiences are expected to be present. SIE and the other partners of the
consortium will keep ICT-BIOCHAIN in the public eye with both regular and special event
activities that will run throughout the lifetime of the project. Communications activities
will include announcing events and providing summaries and digital content after the
event has taken place whilst building a relationship management tool.
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4. Communication and Dissemination Tools
Several dissemination tools and channels will be used, including the project website,
press releases, e-newsletters, scientific papers and leaflets, social media, and
participation in workshops/conferences. Templates will be created to curate
information needed for production and reporting. These templates will be located on
the project shared workspace.
Any dissemination activities and publications in the project, including the project
website, will specify that the project has received funding from the Bio-based Industries
Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, as well as
displaying the European emblem. When displayed in association with a logo, the
European emblem will be given appropriate prominence. All publications will reference
the grant agreement number. This should read as follows:
This project has received funding from the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (JU)
under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under
grant agreement N° 792221.
Communication activities to stakeholders outside the project group are based on the
dissemination plan presented in section 2.2.1 of the Grant Agreement. The journal
articles are primarily intended to communicate the recent findings to the scientific and
academic communities. However, the project may also publish in trade journals and
magazines important to the industry to disseminate new relevant solutions to other
possible end-users. Project presentations at technical conferences are intended to
reach the same audience.
To spread the information on the ICT, IoT, and Industry 4.0 solutions for the biomass
supply chains, to reach stakeholders within other potential applications areas, an open,
web-based platform will be established to share information and for discussion. The
potential stakeholders will be identified and invited to the platform on a continuous
basis during the project.
Besides the technological aspects, the platform will also share information on their
social and economic impacts as well as feasibility for society. Transformation to a Bio-
Economy will lead to the growth of jobs requiring new skills. ICT-BIOCHAIN will pay
special attention to its communication activities addressing the younger generations. A
variety of channels including online and off-line (digital and print) will be used for mass
communication to end-users.
4.1. Website
Created for M3, the website will be updated constantly (ictbiochain.euictbiochain.euictbiochain.euictbiochain.eu). Two sections
are included: a public section and a private section. The public section includes
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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information such as the project objective, consortium
description, project results, download section with project materials, news and events
of interest, and a contact section. This final section will be developed in English and
Spanish. The private section will include a collaborative space linked to the project
repository. WordPress Analytics are built into the site for rapid reporting of page views,
individual visitors, duration of navigation, etc.
Figure 3. Project website
The project website was set-up by SIE and will be managed, maintained and hosted for
the duration of the project and for a further 3 years after the completion of the project.
Statistical data will be collected about the website visitors that subsequently will be
analysed by Google Analytics software and included in the project reports. The website
is responsive to work on a variety of devices and screen sizes, such as smartphones.
Key Words to increase search engine optimization:
Computer sciences
Information science
Bioinformatics
Supply chain management
Scientific computing
Simulation and modelling tools
Bioproducts (products that are manufactured using biological material such as
feedstock)
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Biomaterials
Bioplastics
Biofuels
Bioderived bulk and fine chemicals
Bio-derived novel materials
4.2 Project Branding / Visual Identity
A recognisable project identity was developed to build a visual brand and ultimately
offer a package of templates that will facilitate the building of notoriety progressively
through the project. This includes creating a project logo and an accompanying style
guide. These will be consistently used for the project website and all other
communication templates, such as PowerPoint, Word, posters and EC Reports. At the
kick-off meeting, participants saw the printed materials such as the roll-up poster and
folders which can be used in exhibitions or workshops.
Figure 4. Branding lines
4.3 Flyer
A leaflet summarizing project objective impacts and key activities has also been created
for events being attended by partners. Moreover, two specific flyers, one per regional
DiH will be produced in the local language to maximise the population reached. As this
is offline support, we will require distributors to assess quantities distributed and
content appreciation.
4.4 Email
The various audiences will be contacted through email. A press release will be produced
at the end of the project. Regular press releases will be sent to suitable media channels
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and the project team during the project at important stages of
success worth disseminating. MailChimp analytics will be used in the creation of the
CRM. This is part of the website configuration.
4.5 Video
Two videos will be produced summarizing the project objectives (M3) and the results
obtained (M20). They will be then included in the project website and broadcasted
through YouTube. The video will be produced/subtitled also in Spanish and Irish
language to maximise the impact and foster the follow-up participation of Andalusian
and Irish people in DiHs after the project. It is important to tell the human side of the
story to make connections with our audiences. Technology can seem out-of-reach for
certain stakeholders. We need to make it not only accessible but attractive to them and
emotionally engaging. An idea emerged to make video n°2 central around the use of an
Irish dairy farmer and the value chain of the biomass his or her activity produces,
demonstrating the added value of being an active part of a revitalised system using new
technologies. In terms of indicators on video, we will gauge for external embedding and
the number of views or shares.
VIDEO 1 (M3) VIDEO 1 (M3) VIDEO 1 (M3) VIDEO 1 (M3) –––– YouTube:YouTube:YouTube:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUB8LiJ2s1U
4.6 e-newsletters
the e-newsletter will be produced every six months to provide information about
project progress. This e-newsletter will be managed using Mail Chimp, being delivered
to a wide list of contacts of different organization and entities at the EU level. A pdf
version will be also ready for download at the website. Visitors can subscribe on the
homepage as seen above in the footer. The first newsletter which was prepared for M6
and sent via MailChimp.
Figure 5. Screen capture of the first Newsletter (M6)
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4.7 Social Media
To reach a wider audience and especially young audience, social media will be used as
both a communication and dissemination channel. We make this differentiation here
because we will not only use the traditional sender-receiver model of communication,
where we publish content. Rather, the social media channels are intended to be
opportunities to exchange with members of the community and the extended sphere of
influence where we – the consortium as a collective – are present online. It is expected
that interaction with related projects will take place both online and offline, but social
media, as previously mentioned, is a good place to start building the network. Most of
the consortium members are currently involved in several EU or national funded
projects and the existing liaisons will be used for communication purposes.
Dissemination Accounts have been created for LinkedIn and Twitter.
(https://twitter.com/ictbiochain)
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/ict-biochain/)
As of the first draft of this report (31.10.2018), (31.10.2018), (31.10.2018), (31.10.2018), the following social media presence has
been reached:
TWITTER: 237 followers / 168 tweets | LINKEDIN: 151 followers
After our After our After our After our first year of the ICTfirst year of the ICTfirst year of the ICTfirst year of the ICT----BIOCHAIN ProjectBIOCHAIN ProjectBIOCHAIN ProjectBIOCHAIN Project::::
TWITTER: 393 followers / 221 tweets | LINKEDIN: 284 followers
Figure 6. Social media channels
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We share information about the description of the project, the events in which we
participate, the Consortium meetings and sometimes articles of interest on the actions
of the BBI JU. We always use hashtags like #bioeconomy #biobased and of course, we
always tag @BBIJU on both Twitter and LinkedIn.
4.8 Scientific Journals and Trade Publications
ICT-BIOCHAIN will aim to publish scientific papers relating to project activities will be in
specialised journals such as the following list to promote greater awareness of project
results. Papers will also be made available using open-source format. The participation
of regional Model Demonstrator Regions with their government and industry
connections allows for further dissemination of project outputs on opportunities
offered by cross-sectoral innovation. Partners are invited to contribute to this list. (See
Annex C.)
Journal of Supply Chain Management
Journal of Innovations in Digital Ecosystems
Biomass and Bioenergy Journal
Journal of Advances in Agriculture
Journal of Modern Science and Technology
Technology and System Interactions
Applied Informatics
Nature Research Journal
Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy
Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research
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American Chemical Society
Physics in Technology – IOPscience
Journal of Physical Materials – IOPscience
European Journal of Physics
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics
The Journal of Biochemistry
BioScience - Oxford University Press
Central European Journal of Computer Science
Education and Information Technologies
EPJ Data Science
International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer
Innovations in Systems and Software Engineering
Journal of Network and Systems Management
The consortium may equally pursue publishing in mainstream publications like
Agroalimentare News and AgriRegion in Europe.
4.9 Events
ICT-BIOCHAIN will host dedicated sessions and workshops; partners will both engage in
organising events and participating in events. The metrics used for measurement are:
Organizer: Attendance/turn-out from the invitation list, level of engagement with
attendees, dissemination of presentation, support documents, etc.
Participant: Type of intervention, turn-out (quality representation), network growth
The following events and occasions (non-exhaustive list) are considered high-potential
platforms for face-to-face communication and personal exchanges as well as promoting
the project and the thought leadership of various consortium partners. Partners are
invited to contribute to this list.
Table 6. Events to promote ICT-BIOCHAIN
WHEN EVENT NAME & INFO TYPE OF EVENT AUDIENCE
2018
Bioeconomy Ireland Day
Conference &Expo Industry,
Research Centers
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• ITT and IBF participated in this event
presenting ICT-BIOCHAIN + printed
material
ITT, IBF & producers
BIOSPAIN
• CAPDER and CTA participated in this
event presenting ICT-BIOCHAIN +
printed material
CAPDER,
CTA
Summit Industry,
Government
Institutions &
producers
2019
Smart AgriFood, Malaga
• CAPDER participated in this event,
presenting ICT-BIOCHAIN + printed
material
Summit Industry,
Investors
DiH Ireland - launch event
ITT, IBF Conferences &
Networking sessions
Industry &
producers
DiH Andalusia - launch event
CTA Conference, Expo &
Networking sessions
Industry & end-
users
Bioeconomy Ireland Week 2019 -
Knowledge Transfer Demonstration Day
ITT, IBF Industry,
research centers
& investors
2020
Smart AgriFood CAPDER,
CTA
Summit Industry,
research centers
& investors
Month
18
Knowledge Transfer Workshop /
Demonstration
CTA Workshop
Month
20
Knowledge Transfer Workshop /
Demonstration
ITT Workshop
Month
22
Train the trainer event
e-Learning Methods Training
Investment Day
CTA/ ITT Workshop
Month
24
Final Conference, Brussels, June 2020
A seminar will be organized at the end of the
project to present project results to the EU
audience. This event will have a general
scope and will be organized next to a high-
impact EU event.
SIE Conference Industry &
producers,
policymakers, EU
officials,
5. Exploitation Plan
5.1 Innovation Objectives of ICT-BIOCHAIN Project
Digitalization has swept across many industries over the past decades, not only
changing the way companies do things but also providing new value creation
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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opportunities. One of the most precise explanations about
Digitalization is from Gartner: “ Digitalization is the use of digital technologies to change
a business model and provide new revenue and value-producing opportunities; it is the
process of moving to a digital business” (Gartner, 2018).
Biomass market has steadily grown in the past years especially in the new domains
where biomass is expected to replace coal and petroleum as a raw material to produce
products. Those emerging markets range from energy, plastic, chemical to
pharmaceutical sectors. The feedstock demand for the whole Bio-based Economy in
European Union (EU) regions for the production of liquid biofuels, power & heat, bio-
polymers and bio-chemicals are projected to reach 128 Million Tonnes (MT) by 2020,
among which 34 MT is expected to come from biomass (USDA, 2015). To ensure the
bio-based economy to flourish, an effective and sustainable supply chain to provide
steadily available biomass will be one of the most indispensable elements to be
established.
Table 7. EU Feedstock demand for the Bio-based Economy (USDA, 2015)
2013 2020 2030
Liquid Biofuels Current blend rate:
3.5% of gasoline
5.6% of diesel
Grains: 10 000
Fats & Oils: 9 600
Sugar beets: 11 700
Target blend rate:
10% of transport fuels
7% cap on conv.
Biofuels
Grains: 14 250
Fats & Oils: 17 300
Sugar beets: 16 500
Biomass: unknown
Target blend rate:
25% of transport fuels
(all advanced biofuels)
Biomass: unknown
Power & Heat Wood pellets: 17 500 Wood pellets: 50 000 Wood pellets: unknown
Bio-Polymers
& Bio-
Chemicals
Biomass: about 1 000 Biomass: 34 000
20% replacement
Biomass: 50 000
30% replacement
ICT-BIOCHAIN consortium partners together with leading experts and support networks
aim to identify potential opportunities how the biomass supply chain could improve its
efficiency and biomass mobilization with the help of technologies such as Information
and Communication Technology (ICT), Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0. The
current state-of-arts of ICT, IoT and Industry 4.0 solutions are evaluated and the
applicable applications, as well as the current digitalization level and good practices that
are already adopted in the biomass supply chain, are examined. On the other hands,
potential areas to be improved in terms of efficiency and sustainability will be identified.
At the current stage, four exploitable results have been identified (shown in Table 7):
Table 8. Exploitable Results
No. Exploitable Result Lead partner Participants
1 ICT-BIOCHAIN platform IML VTT, IBF, CAPDER,
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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ITT, CTA
2 DiHs within ready-made test bed bio-
economy regions
CTA, ITT CAPDER, IBF, VTT,
IML
3 DIH design and implementation
roadmap
CTA, ITT CAPDER, VTT, IML,
IBF
4 Recommendations for a demand-
driven European research agenda for
digitizing the bio-based economy
ITT CTA, VTT, IML
5.2 Exploitable Results and Exploitation Routes
5.2.1 ICT-BIOCHAIN Platform
Currently, in the market, several agile data management solutions have been developed
but they are mostly focused on enterprise data governance. Available solutions adopted
by the companies include Oracle, SAS, IBM, TopBraid EDG™, etc. However, there is not
yet a platform available especially for sharing knowledge about ICT, IoT and Industrial
4.0 in the biomass supply chain context.
In the ICT-BIOCHAIN project, a prototype of a platform will be created in order to store
all the knowledge and information related to the state-of-the-art of ICT, IoT, and
Industrial 4.0 technologies and relevant applications to improve the biomass supply
chain efficiency and biomass mobilisation.
Through the browser of the platform, the users are empowered to create, update and
search for any relevant contents. All the information will be aggregated and stored in
compliance with Linked Data and FAIR Data principles to maximize the transparency and
reusability of the information for any stakeholders in the biomass supply chain who are
interested in utilizing it. An intuitive content management system like WordPress will be
used to offer a graphical user interface to display the information in an easy-to-
understand and user-friendly manner.
In brief, the most valuable aspects of this platform are the clear and unique focus on
the biomass supply chain and its simplicity and usability for the users. This prototype of
the platform will contain an ontology, requirement document and software
architecture.
The platform development will reach TRL 4 as a small-scale prototype by the end of the
project. For the moment, the exploitation route under consideration is to develop a
cooperation agreement or joint venture with current consortium partners to further
develop it to full scale.
5.2.2 DIH Within Ready-made Test Bed Bio-Economy Regions
Even though 21st century is widely recognized as the digital era in which our world has
been thoroughly transformed by diversified digital technologies, there is a huge
discrepancy of digitalization level among sectors, and companies within the same sector
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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in Europe (McKinsey, 2016). Around 60% of large industries and
more than 90% of the SMEs find themselves as digital laggards who have difficulties to
know what technologies to invest in and how they can secure financing resources to
support their digital transformation (European Commission, 2018b).
The DIHs, as the concept proposed by the European Commission, are designed to be
one-stop-shops that help companies to become more competitive with regard to their
business/production process, products or services using digital technologies (European
Commission, 2018a).
Figure 7. Concept of Digital Innovation Hub (TNO, 2017)
In the ICT-BIOCHAIN project, two DiHs will be established separately in East and South
Ireland and Andalusia in Spain within ready-made test bed bio-economy regions. These
two DiHs shall bring different stakeholders in the biomass value chain together to
create new networks and clusters and serve as an ecosystem for an efficient
implementation of ICT, IoT, and Industrial 4.0 technologies in biomass supply chains by
offering services and innovations capabilities to the stakeholders. Three main actors to
be targeted are biomass suppliers and producers, logistics companies and technology
companies specialized in ICT, IoT and Industrial 4.0. Meanwhile, the competence
centers, policymakers and other relevant entities and associations should also be taken
into account.
The potential exploitation route for these two DiHs is cooperation agreement and joint
venture. A clear and unique DiH value proposition for each of the DiH shall be identified
in a later stage of the project in order to differentiate the positioning from other more
than 450 existing DiHs across Europe (European Commission, 2018b), especially in the
targeted regions.
5.2.3 DIH Design and Implementation Roadmap
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With the success of the first two DiHs established in the ICT-
BIOCHAIN project, the gaining know-how to design the DiH and following
implementation can provide roadmap and training to different biomass supply chains
and allow future replication to other regions for bio-based sectors all over Europe.
Elements to be covered in the roadmap include but not limited to the structure
definition, implementation, activities programming, methods to better identify relevant
stakeholder, understand their behaviours and involve them in the DiH.
This roadmap is expected to fill up the gap in the industry where no well-proven
methodology for DiH implementation is available. Until now, only a few communication
documents and literature papers could be used as a reference.
The potential exploitation route to exploit this roadmap is to develop and sell it as
consultancy service to public entities who are interested in establishing DiH in their
regions.
5.2.4 Recommendations for a Demand-driven European Research Agenda
for Digitizing the Bio-Based Economy
Based on the experience and know-how gained in the ICT-BIOCHAIN project, a report
with recommendations of potential fields of actions to address existing barriers and
further develop the innovation capacity and opportunities for Europe’s Digital Bio-based
Economy at different levels from regional, national to European scale will be provided.
It should be beneficial for biomass stakeholders, particularly European and regional
government as well as policymakers, to better understand what the obstacles to
breaking are and where the future areas of research to target regarding the
development of DiH in bioeconomy.
6. Production Timeline: Project Deliverables &
Communication Activities
N° Deliverable Title or Communication
Activity Name
Lead Type Dissemination
Level
Due Date (in
months)
2018
CA Roll-up Poster for conferences SIE Communication Activities Public 1 – JUN
D6.1 Project Website – continuous updates SIE Websites, Patents Filing,
etc.
Public 3 – SEPT
D6.8 Video – Project Presentation SIE Websites, Patents Filing,
etc.
Public 3 – SEPT
CA Project Flyer SIE Communication Activities Public 3 – SEPT
CA Social Networks – continuous updates SIE Communication Activities Public 3 – 24
D6.2 Dissemination, Communication, and
Exploitation Plan – punctual updates
SIE Report Public 6 – NOV
D6.3 Project Newsletter- Issue #1 ITT Report Public 6 – NOV
CA Non-Scientific Publication ALL Paper Public Every 6
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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months
2019
CA Press Release #1 SIE Communication Activities Public 9 – FEB
D6.10 Definition of ICT-BIOCHAIN platform
business model strategies
SIE Report Public 12 – MAY
D6.4 Project Newsletter- Issue #2 ITT Report Public 12 – MAY
CA 3 Events – YEAR 1: trade fair, business
meeting, conference, expo
ALL Event Participation /
Organisation
Public 12 – MAY
CA Non-Scientific Publication ALL Paper Public Every 6
months
CA Press Release #2 SIE Communication Activities Public 15 – AUG
D6.5 Project Newsletter- Issue #3 ITT Report Public 18 – NOV
CA Non-Scientific Publication ALL Paper Public Every 6
months
2020
CA Press Release #3 SIE Communication Activities Public 20 – JAN
D6.9 Video – Final Results SIE Websites, Patents Filing,
etc.
Public 20 – JAN
CA Non-Scientific Publication ALL Paper Public Every 6
months
CA European Seminar SIE Event Participation /
Organisation
Public 22 - MARCH
CA 3 Events – YEAR 2: trade fair, business
meeting, conference, expo
ALL Event Participation /
Organisation
Public 24 – MAY
D6.6 Project Newsletter- Issue #4 ITT Report Public 24 – MAY
D6.7 Final Conference Report SIE Report Public 24 – MAY
7. References
• European Commission. (2018a). Digital Innovation Hubs - Smart
Specialisation Platform. Retrieved November 7, 2018, from
http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/digital-innovation-hubs
• European Commission. (2018b). Pan-European network of Digital Innovation
Hubs (DIHs) | Digital Single Market. Retrieved November 7, 2018, from
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/digital-innovation-hubs
• Gartner. (2018). Digitalization - Gartner IT Glossary. Retrieved October 30,
2018, from https://www.gartner.com/it-glossary/digitalization/
• McKinsey. (2016). DIGITAL EUROPE : PUSHING THE FRONTIER, CAPTURING
THE BENEFITS, (June).
• TNO. (2017). Digital Innovation Hubs Catalogue. Euroinnovazione. Retrieved
from http://euroinnovazione.eu/digital-innovation-hubs/
• USDA. (2015). EU-28 EU Bio-Based Economy and Its Inputs.
Deliverable 6.2. Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation Plan
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8. Annexes
Annex A. Key Exploitable Results Questionnaire
Below is the questionnaire which has been designed and distributed to the consortium
partners in order to collect essential information regarding the key exploitable results that will
be generated during the project lifetime as well as the potential exploitation route how the
partners would like to exploit them after the end of the project. Some relevant topics such as
intellectual property rights and business models have also been covered in the same
questionnaire.
� Section 1: Key Exploitable Results (KER)
1.1 Please fill in the following information
KER Name
Lead partner
Participating
partners
TRL Initial: Choose an item.
Current: Choose an item.
Expected at the end: Choose an item.
1.2 KER description (Please include principal characteristics/functions/how it works, etc)
1.3 What makes this new DiH/platform (KER) attractive to the potential markets/users?
Key benefits or problems solved by this new DiH/platform? What it does better than
existing DiHs/platforms? What impacts will it bring? Please quantify it if applicable.
(e.g. Improve operational aspects, improve performance and yield, cost-efficient,
energy efficiency, sustainability, availability of feedstock etc.)
1.4 What is the current state of the art in the domain of this new DiH/platform (KER)?
1.5 What DiH/platform do you think will be the major competitors for this KER? Can you
briefly describe their profiles? (e.g. main characteristics, key strengths, price, etc.)
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1.6 How do you plan on exploiting the project results after the end of the project?
☐ Develop and sell the new product/service
☐ Spin-off activity
☐ Cooperation agreement/Joint venture
☐ Sell IP rights or IP-based business
☐ License IP rights
☐ Transfer ownership of IP rights to another partner from ICT-BIOCHAIN consortium
☐ Standardisation activities (new standards or support ongoing procedures)
☐ Other methods. Please indicate: Click or tap here to enter text.
Supplementary explanation if any:
1.7 What would be needed after M6 in order to make this DiH/platform be ready to be
exploitable? (e.g. external financing, obtaining authorization for operation,
management structure building, validation of the platform prototype, etc.)
� Section 2: IPR Strategy and Protection
2.1 Background IP (existing IP, previous to project start):
2.1.1 Does this new DiH/platform (KER) rely on any existing IP/background IP? What
is it and which partner(s) own it?
2.1.2 If this new DiH/platform is relying on any existing IP/background IP, how is this
background IP protected?
☐ Trade secret
☐ Copy right
☐ Trademark
☐ Patent
☐ Utility model
☐ Industrial design
☐ Other methods (Please indicate: Click or tap here to enter text.)
☐ Not protected (Please explain why: Click or tap here to enter text.)
If applicable, what is the registration number of the patent?
If applicable, what are the access rights to the background IP?
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2.2 Foreground IP (Intellectual protection of the KER):
2.2.1 How do you plan to protect this new DiH/platform (KER)?
☐ Trade secret
☐ Copy right
☐ Trademark
☐ Patent
☐ Utility model
☐ Industrial design
☐ Other methods (Please indicate: Click or tap here to enter text.)
☐ No protection is foreseen (Please explain why: Click or tap here to enter
text.)
2.2.2 What is or will be the scope of the IP protection for this new DiH/platform
(KER)?
(e.g. It will be the technology and/or the platform to be protected, at what
geographical range will the protection be valid, at what time frame, etc)
2.2.3 Patent Search:
2.2.3.1 Have you already made a Patent Research see if there is any similar
patent already existing?
Yes ☐ No ☐
2.2.3.2 If yes, what was the result of this search?
2.2.4 Will this new DiH/platform (KER) be developed by more than one partner?
Yes ☐ No☐
If yes, please indicate the contribution by each partner and how the ownership
will be distributed among the partners.
Partner Contribution (explain) Who will own the rights or how right
will be shared
� Section 3: Market Analysis
3.1 What are the different applications for this new DiH/platform (KER)?
3.2 Are there any legal, normative, or ethical requirements this KER has to comply with in
order to enter the target markets?
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� Section 4: Exploitation / CANVAS model
4.1 Who will be the target customers or users? Who will be interested in this new
DiH/platform (KER)? Any potential target customer already shows interests? (e.g.
research communities, European policymakers, Industrial companies/innovators,
investors, civil society, citizens, etc)
4.2 The new DiH/platform (KER) could be used in the form of?
Software ☐ Products ☐ Research Roadmaps ☐ Policy recommendations ☐
Processes ☐ Services☐ Pre-standards ☐ (Collaboration) platforms ☐
Data ☐ Reports ☐ Codes of conduct ☐ Educational material ☐
Patents ☐ Prototypes ☐ Publications ☐ Skills and knowledge ☐
4.3 What is the value that you would like to get from this new DiH/platform (KER)? (e.g.
for scientific, societal, or economic purposes, etc.) And how do you plan to get the
value?
4.4 Who will be responsible for the exploitation after the end of the project?
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Annex B. Stakeholder Curation Template
Partners are invited to contribute to the samples proposed below:
NAME Areas of interest
Bio-Base Europe Pilot
Plant (Ghent, Belgium)
Bio-Based Materials: enables the conversion of biomass (a.o.
agricultural crops and by-products, industrial side streams) into
biochemicals, biomaterials, biofuels and other bioproducts.
Flanders Biobased Valley
(Ghent, Belgium)
non-profit organization: supports the development of all biobased
activities, including bioenergy; provided a platform to inform the
general public on these new products and technologies in a concerted
way.
Biomass Power Group
(UK)
A network of 550+ company and individual members. The group’s
purpose is to promote and protect the interests of those involved in the
generation of electricity from biomass, throughout the complete supply
chain.
NNFCC - National Non-
Food Crops Centre
(NNFCC) help extend the
competitive non-food
uses of crops (York)
International consultancy providing advice on the conversion
of biomass to bioenergy, biofuels and bio-based products.
BCNP Consultants
Frankfurt, Germany
Business management consultant with strong networks in technology-
based industries.
ERRIN – European
Regions Research and
Innovations Network
(Bruxelles, Belgium)
Network supporting regions to develop their innovation and
shape European research and innovation policy from
a regional perspective
Bioeconomy Europe
(Bavaria, Germany)
An organization with the intention to raise awareness, support and
educate about the Bioeconomy and its progress in Europe!
AlpBioEco (EU Project) Valorisation of bioeconomical potentials along with biobased food &
botanical extracts, co-financed by the ERDF through the Interreg Alpine
Space Programme.
Projects BC Naklo
(Slovenia)
Educational & research institution: devoted to concern for nature and
healthy food production and processing
David Williams Works at Eco2 Ltd; Chair of the Biomass Power Group
James Court Renewable Energy Association Head of Public Affairs and Policy.
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Annex C. Publications Tables
Partners are invited to contribute to the samples below:
Journal of Supply Chain Management
Journal of Innovations in Digital Ecosystems
Biomass and Bioenergy Journal
Journal of Advances in Agriculture
Journal of Modern Science and Technology
Technology and System Interactions
Applied Informatics
Nature Research Journal
Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy
Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research
American Chemical Society
Physics in Technology – IOPscience
Journal of Physical Materials – IOPscience
European Journal of Physics
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics
The Journal of Biochemistry
BioScience - Oxford University Press
Central European Journal of Computer Science
Education and Information Technologies
EPJ Data Science
International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer
Innovations in Systems and Software Engineering
Journal of Network and Systems Management
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Annex D. Communication Matrix
The following table guides us through the project to manage communication efforts. The
media plan will be revisited continuously to assure that we are addressing all our audiences
and taking time-bound actions that are producing the desired results. Targeted messages may
be refined.
Stakeholder Timeline Media Channels Key Messages Feel Actions
General Public M1 –
M24
Social Media, website,
events, Mainstream
publications or digital
press coverage
Biomass optimisation within
Europe can lead to new job
creation.
Digital Innovation Hubs provide
transparent and democratic
access to information which
helps local agribusinesses.
ICT used in biomass supply keeps
European businesses more
competitive on the world market.
ICT-BIOCHAIN will positively
impact our planet, i.e. reduce
CO2 emissions from the
importation of non-indigenous
biomass.
Taking an interest in these
innovations puts consumers in-
the-know to make positive
purchasing choices.
Reassured that
their taxes are
used in funds that
bring about
positive change
through concrete
actions.
Europe is
positioned for a
sustainable future
for generations to
come.
Follow the
project on
social media.
Share the
information
we produce.
Take an
interest in
circular,
bioeconomy
for Europe.
ICT, IoT
Developers, new
generation IoT
enhanced
manufacturing:
Industry 4.0
M12-
M24
Workshops, Events,
Social Media, Website
The “Internet of Things” offers
supply chain management
limitless connections between all
participants and at all stages.
Remote farmers/agriculturalists
can be digitally connected to a
resource centre of real-time
valuable data for constantly
improved automation solutions
and decision-making.
Many IoT solutions were
originally thought to be used in a
closed network and not in open
Internet, therefore security risks
will need to be mitigated.
More than a buzz-
word or an
extension of
Machine to
Machine (M2M),
IoT and ICT
represent the
future for the
connected
business.
Interact with
the project
online
regarding the
DiH
formulation,
follow the
project.
Public Bodies,
Local Authorities
M20 -
M24
Reports, Press releases,
events
To assure a sustainable future for
regional businesses, a focus
needs to be placed on the
digitalization of local economy
sectors as well as the
development of the bioeconomy.
ICT-BIOCHAIN will help with
demonstrating how these pillars
work together, boosting both
markets and consumption.
The two testbed
areas are creating
competitive
advantages by
engaging their
regional value
chains in this
experiment
setting best-
practices.
Attend events,
contact the
project
coordinators,
learn how the
project is
working
toward
duplication.
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Biomass
suppliers &
Agribusiness
M6-
M24
Workshops, Events,
Social Media, Website
Biomass is not new. What is
critical today is the increase in
local, indigenous, sustainable
biomass which will positively
influence supply and demand of
biomass by also enriching local
suppliers from existing
agribusiness and industry.
Our project is
committed to
supporting
participants in the
adoption and use
these
technologies; new
skills will help
improve their
processes in the
long-term. We
will give them the
tools to do this.
Attend
workshops
demonstrate
curiosity
about the role
of IoT and ICT
in the value
chain for
biomass.
Sustainability
investors
M20-
M24
Press releases,
Workshops
One of the most advanced new
areas in IoT solutions is logistics.
When applied to biomass supply
chains, it makes investing in
those value chain players
appealing.
Consumers want products with a
greater conscious and in support
of local communities.
In addition to profit, which ICT-
BIOCHAIN will aim to improve,
two more measures: social and
environmental impact will be
taken into account.
Gauging the social
and
environmental
effects of biomass
value chains is
much harder than
measuring
financial
performance, but
with these metrics
built into the
project, values-
based, socially
responsible,
impact investing is
appealing and
offers substantial
rewards.
Attend
meetings and
workshops,
report on the
ICT-BIOCHAIN
outputs and
proof points
for a new
biomass
supply chain
model
incorporating
IoT/ICT.
Biomass buyers,
industrials
M6-
M24
Workshops, Events,
Social Media, Website
IoT will improve manufacturing
process monitoring, analysing,
optimising, managing, and
distribution. The entire biomass
value chain will perform better as
IoT applications can be taken into
use as cloud solutions where the
users see reporting results using
the web or mobile applications to
make better business decisions.
The single largest
limiting factor for
biomass
production
“independence” is
the unavailability
of biomass, but
regional focus on
biomass
availability will
help us overcome
this problem.
Take part in
success story;
participate in
events and
contribute to
achieving one
of the most
attractive
outputs:
environmental
sustainability
Media,
communicators,
influencers,
journalists
M22-
M24
Press releases, events,
social media
Europe has invested handsomely,
as have the project partners in
dedicating their time and
expertise in tackling these joint
industry problems addressing a
more sustainable future for
biomass industry.
The people behind the supply
chains, and all the steps
ICT-BIOCHAIN is at
the forefront of
an emerging and
promising concept
to optimise our
regional biomass
exploitation.
There are human
and
environmental
benefits to these
efforts.
Write articles,
pick up press
releases and
share, do a
televised story
covering the
project’s
application.
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Supply chain
industrials
M20-
M24
Supply Chain trade
press, press releases,
social media
networking, F2F
networking
Competitive advantage comes
with knowledge. Digitalisation in
the form of Digital Innovation
Hubs is the kind of 21st
-century
information businesses today
need to keep their edge and lead
confidently into a sustainable
future.
Concerned that
they will miss
securing their
business into the
future if they
don’t join a DiH.
Participate in
our
workshops at
the end of the
project; follow
us.
European Policy
Makers
M20-
M24
Media, trade press,
public opinion
newspapers/press
We have clearly shown the
benefits of ICT & IoT technologies
in bioeconomy sector. This
project, with its centres in Ireland
and Spain, are now paving the
way for other countries to follow
suit. Datahubs, with a
transparent exchange of
information, should be standard
practice within the EU to
compete on a worldwide scale
with North America and Asia, in
particular.
They are making
positive headway
in the
implementation
of measures
destined to
protect the planet
and Europeans in
particular;
confident in
supporting these
initiatives.
Show
constituents
that they are
in support of
these
H202/FP7
projects
bringing about
positive
change.
European
Commission
M1-M24 Consortium Reports,
Final meeting
ICT-BIOCHAIN will provide the
tools to identify bioresource
flows and opportunities for the
development of biobased
operations in Europe whilst
fostering transparency and
cooperation as actors in Biomass
Supply Chain (BSC) collaborate in
a transnational effort.
Confident in the
project progress
and results.
Recognise ICT-
BIOCHAIN as
an example of
a well-run and
impactful
project.
EU BBI JU &
related projects
M1-M24 Newsletters, social
media, public reports,
events, website
publications/newsletters
BSC collaboration is improved by
increased understanding about
ICT, IoT, and Industry 4.0
solutions and best practices -
leading the way for a better,
more sustainable Europe.
ICT-BIOCHAIN
embodies this
message and
works in
transparency to
benefit all actors
in the entire value
chain process.
Recognise ICT-
BIOCHAIN as
an example of
a well-run and
impactful
project.