Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication Report

This report presents the dissemination, communication, and exploitation activities carried out within the BRRIDGE project during the implementation period. The overall objective of these activities was to ensure broad visibility of project results, strengthen engagement with academic and non-academic stakeholders, and support the long-term sustainability and uptake of project outcomes. The report documents a diverse portfolio of channels and formats designed to reach scientific communities, policy actors, civil society, and the broader public.
The BRRIDGE website served as the central information platform, ensuring open access to project news, outputs, and resources. Despite technical disruptions caused by a server attack in 2023, the website was successfully restored and recorded more than 2,200 visits after re-establishment, confirming continued interest in project activities. Social media engagement complemented website dissemination and significantly expanded outreach, with consortium researchers’ combined LinkedIn followership increasing by approximately 27% between 2023 and the end of 2025. Major digital tools such as the Slovak Volebný Kompas and EU & I VAA generated over 130,000 social media interactions, illustrating strong public engagement. A broad range of blog posts, news articles, and communication materials supported continuous visibility of research findings and events. Press releases and public discourse activities resulted in extensive media coverage, including national news portals, TV appearances, and interviews, demonstrating the project’s ability to translate academic work into accessible public communication. The dissemination approach emphasized clear, jargon-free formats designed to reach diverse audiences and to foster informed democratic participation. The project achieved strong international academic visibility through participation in numerous conferences, workshops, and professional events, greatly surpassing initial dissemination targets. These activities enabled knowledge exchange, research networking, and international collaboration. In parallel, project outputs were consolidated through a substantial portfolio of scientific publications, covering topics ranging from democratic representation and labour markets to climate politics and governance. Exploitation activities were reinforced through project-organized events, training workshops, and open educational resources. Notably, the Volebný Kompas voting advice application was used by 134,699 voters and subsequently integrated into educational workshops as a tool for democratic learning. Additional lifelong learning courses and training initiatives supported capacity building among researchers, students, and civic stakeholders. The dissemination and exploitation cycle culminated in the BRRIDGE Final Conference held within Human Forum 2025, which brought together more than 165 participants and showcased key project results through keynote lectures, panel discussions, and stakeholder dialogue. This concluding event reinforced the visibility and sustainability of BRRIDGE outcomes beyond the project’s formal duration.