Watson Deliverable D6.4 – Dissemination and Communication Strategy and Periodic Dissemination and Communication Report (Interim Report 2)

Executive Summary: This deliverable contains the 2nd interim report on dissemination and communication, as well as an update of the dissemination and communication strategy of Watson that was outlined in “D6.2 - Dissemination and Communication Strategy and Periodic Dissemination and Communication Report (Interim Report 1)”. It describes the activities that have been carried out until Month 18 under “Work Package 6 - Ecosystem Building and Exploitation” and presents an overview of the changes being made to the plan to ensure that Watson effectively reaches its key target groups. As the project reached its second year, the emphasis progressively shifted from the creation of relevant channels and content to the inclusion of the initial results and findings from ongoing research on Watson, and the intensification of dissemination efforts at both physical and online events. During the reporting period, significant progress was made in establishing Watson’s brand and communicating its objectives. A robust digital presence was developed, with the project’s website attracting 3,104 unique visitors and over 10,000 page views. Complementing this, Watson's social media strategy proved effective, particularly on LinkedIn, where the project reached 1,584 followers and achieved over 62,000 impressions. Watson also produced three newsletters and gained visibility in various media outlets, including radio programmes and food magazines. Additionally, the project organised 6 workshops and participated in 53 events across Europe. As a result, Watson has engaged with over 90,000 stakeholders through its communication channels. Moreover, the project’s contributions to 10 international conferences have significantly enhanced its visibility. As the project moves forward, the strategy will continue to evolve with a stronger focus on targeted stakeholder engagement. Efforts will be intensified on social media, particularly LinkedIn, while the website will undergo further optimisation to maintain high levels of engagement. Additionally, the project will create new dissemination materials, such as mini-series episodes; continue to strengthen synergies with related projects and organise more workshops and training activities. Lastly, Watson will significantly increase the number of peer-reviewed papers and articles published in leading scientific journals and conference proceedings, while contributing to other types of publicationsto reach a broader audience beyond academia. In parallel, the project will develop high-level materials tailored for policymakers, including the publication of white papers and sets of best practices, accompanied by relevant statistics from various EU and associated countries.