Objective
Research-intensive firms are increasingly influential actors in science communication. Companies like Ericsson, Sanofi, or Siemens disseminate science-related content via websites, reports, or social media. Such “corporate science communication” (COSCOM) can foster public engagement with science and innovation, but commercial incentives also create risks: companies may engage in “sciencewashing”—misrepresenting or exaggerating scientific evidence—which can fuel scepticism toward industry science that can spill-over to trust in science more broadly. Yet research on societal effects remains fragmented and case-based, even as science scepticism and misinformation rise.
COSCOM develops a communication-centred understanding of corporate science communication—linking companies, intermediaries (e.g. journalists, NGOs), and publics—to answer a core question: when does corporate science communication build or erode public trust in science and innovation acceptance, and which interventions mitigate risks while leveraging benefits? Integrating communication science, science and technology studies, innovation and business ethics research, it (1) maps the prevalence of corporate science communication and sciencewashing, (2) analyses how intermediaries amplify, verify or contest corporate messages, and (3) tests effects on public perceptions, aimed a (4) establishing a new framework and co-creating tools and guidelines with stakeholders.
COSCOM delivers the first systematic, cross-country, cross-sector and multi-actor analysis of Europe’s top R&D investors (automotive, ICT/technology, pharmaceutical), complemented by contextualized insights into Germany and Switzerland and survey experiments on societal effects in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. COSCOM establishes a new research framework at the industry-science-society interface and equips communicators, intermediaries, publics and policymakers with evidence to reduce harmful effects and foster responsible practices.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2026-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80539 Planegg
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.