Andréia Lopes Azevedo, Carlotta Inserra and Sara Mecatti, POLIS

Overview

Deliverable D8.4 updates ELABORATOR’s communication and dissemination strategy for the project’s second half and reports progress up to month 23. It retains the original objectives and core messages while revising channels, partner guidance and local engagement priorities based on project experience. The document places stronger emphasis on communication around Living Lab implementation, accessible local outreach and interaction with final stakeholders. It also records communication outputs, collaborations and the status of project indicators. For readers, it shows how an initial communication plan can be reviewed and adapted as a complex project moves from preparation towards implementation.

Highlights

• Strategy update based on experience: The second version incorporates partner feedback, activities completed during the first half of the project and revised guidance for Living Lab teams.

• Stronger local engagement: Communication is treated as essential for informing citizens, supporting participation, improving acceptance of local actions and increasing the potential for later scale-up.

• Engagement Strategy: A new annex links communication with levels of public participation and helps Living Labs define messages, audiences and approaches for different engagement objectives.

• Channel adjustment: LinkedIn becomes the main social media platform because activity and outreach on X/Twitter had declined, while the project’s YouTube channel supports short videos on Living Labs and deliverables.

• Documented progress: By the time of submission, the project reported seven scientific publications, three newsletters with a fourth in preparation, regular participation in European and local events, and communication indicators assessed as on track at month 18.

• Expanded cooperation: The update documents work with CIVITAS, the Urban Public Space Design Cluster, EU Mission cities and sister projects, including joint event activity and plans for a shared Cluster book.

Conclusion

D8.4 demonstrates how the communication framework was being applied and adjusted during implementation. Practical changes included replacing the initial flyer with a more informative leaflet, reducing activity on X/Twitter, producing short videos, strengthening local communication and embedding an engagement approach developed with WP2. The reported progress indicates that communication and dissemination activities were on track, while final outreach and impact results remain for later project reporting.