The presentation is not just about the project but more importantly about identifying the breadth and depth of the communication efforts that has helped the project to communicate to a vast array of stakeholders since its inception in 2017. Thirty-two Quarterly newsletters, 32 quarterly focussed partner meetings including 14 webinars, the development of the GenComm Community Hydrogen Forum, the GenComm website, and extensive digital media presence on Linkedin, twitter, YouTube and their own GenComm animation has led to GenComm receiving the prestigious invite to INFORM.
INFORM is a European network of Communication Officers with the ultimate goal of establishing stronger co-operation between the European Commission and EU Programmes. The network meet twice a year and the next meeting between 16-18 November 2022 has the theme, ‘Strategic Communication’.
At the Convento do Espinheiro venue in the city of Evora in Portugal, GenComm Program Manager Paul McCormack, who is also the Belfast Met Innovation Manager, will present a number of slides highlighting how GenComm got their message across to the media since 2017.
Looking forward to the event, McCormack said: “We are at one of the most pivotal times in the energy industry, facing climate and security challenges. The urgency is driving industry, communities, and society through an accelerated energy transition.
"Our successful project communication makes a difference in reaching out beyond the traditional audience and helping inform the social transition also. We have three GenComm pilot installations across Europe which will produce hydrogen from three different renewable sources and demonstrate a range of zero carbon applications.
"With GenComm we have reached out beyond the traditional technical and physical barriers demonstrating that the GenComm hydrogen micro hub approach has helped assist the development of the hydrogen valleys message and our communication/dissemination work has ensured that this has been cascaded across Europe and has helped demonstrate the disruptive technology of green hydrogen.”
Eva Clymans, project officer at Interreg North West Europe, funders of GenComm said: “We are glad to see GenComm selected to present at the INFORM EU network meeting. It’s a great opportunity for the project to demonstrate the impact of its communication activities.
"Interreg NWE strongly encourages all projects to think communication strategically in order to make a strong impact and GENCOMM certainly did a good job communicating close to citizens, raising awareness and influencing policy in their sector.”
The event will be opened by Alexander Ferstl, Head of Sector, DG Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission. There will be a number of workshops including a ‘Crisis Communication’ workshop with an analysis of real world examples. This workshop will be taken by the trainer Tom Moylan, Information and Communication Officer, Adviser at the Director-General of DG Comm, European Commission.
