Managers being responsible for dissemination and/or communication in FP6 projects have formed their own network (COMMNET) to improve their communication skills and to help and assist each other in the day to day problems with colleagues, peers and stakeholders. During network meetings experience is being exchanged between members. This has enhanced the communication quality in all the involved Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence. A web based site for the network members has been established for exchange of written material, guidelines and reference material for common use. Also, good communication has been taken up with the officers in the Commission being responsible for communication.

Author: Jörg Oehlenschläger, Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food, Hamburg, Germany

COMMNET has held several meetings which have included training sessions so far on strategy planning, website design, media engagement and stakeholder involvement. COMMNET members were active participants in Communicating European Research 2005, where a roundtable with the title ‘Communicating EU Food and Health Research’ was organised. A summary of the contributions and the conclusions from the roundtable is being published in a book in January 2007.

Several projects also had stands at the CER 2005 exhibition, where examples of successful project communication were presented. For this and other efforts, COMMNET has been recognised by the Commission and the network is in continuous contact with key players in DG Research through liaison with their Communications Department.