From Dissemination to Engagement:
Insights from a city2science Training at TUM Talent Factory
How can science communication strengthen research proposals and increase their chances of success in competitive funding programmes?
This question was at the heart of a recent city2science training delivered at the TUM Talent Factory for postdoctoral researchers. During the one-day interactive workshop, participants explored how communication and engagement can be integrated into research proposal development—not as an additional requirement, but as a strategic element for creating impact.
Traditionally, science communication has often been associated with activities that share research results with the broader public, such as public lectures, exhibitions, media contributions, podcasts, or outreach events. While these formats remain valuable, current developments in research funding increasingly point towards a broader understanding of communication.
Many national and international funding programmes now expect research projects to contribute to addressing complex societal challenges and “wicked problems.” As a result, communication is no longer viewed solely as dissemination at the end of a project. Instead, it is becoming a process of dialogue, collaboration, and relationship-building throughout the entire research lifecycle.
This shift requires researchers to rethink established approaches:
- Moving from communicating to audiences towards engaging with stakeholders;
- Moving from dissemination at the end of a project towards involvement throughout the research process;
- Moving from addressing a broad and often undefined “general public” towards collaborating with clearly identified groups from policy, industry, civil society, public administration, and professional practice;
- Moving from treating communication as an add-on towards recognising it as an integral component of impact creation.
These developments are reflected in many leading funding schemes. Funders increasingly ask applicants not only what new knowledge will be generated, but also who will be involved, who will benefit, how knowledge will be used, and what pathways exist towards societal, economic, environmental, or policy impact.
Importantly, this does not mean that every project requires a large-scale public engagement campaign. Rather, it calls for a thoughtful assessment of relevance and impact. Key questions include:
- Who has a stake in the research?
- Which expertise is needed beyond academia?
- Who could apply the findings?
- Who should be involved in shaping research questions, interpreting results, or implementing solutions?
As research and innovation policy increasingly shifts from topic-driven towards challenge- and impact-driven approaches, researchers are becoming more than knowledge producers. They are partners within broader innovation and societal ecosystems.
Ultimately, meaningful science communication starts with a simple but powerful question: not merely “Who should be informed about our research?” but rather “Who should be part of the conversation to maximise the impact of our work?”
These ideas form the foundation of the city2science training programme “Science Communication as a Door Opener to Funding.” The workshop supports researchers in identifying relevant stakeholders, developing meaningful engagement strategies, and strengthening the impact dimension of their funding proposals.
Interested in learning more?
city2science offers training and consulting on science communication, stakeholder engagement, public engagement, and impact-oriented proposal development for researchers, universities, and research organisations.
Contact us to learn more about our training programme Science Communication as a Door Opener to Funding: info@city2science.de
