Each new beginning requires more effort until the rules are created, adopted and implemented. The biggest challenge at the start of the ISTER project was to build trust and cooperation between partners who have never previously met and who are unable to do so in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. Thus, the opportunity for personal influence was eliminated and each of the partners had to show an additional dose of professionalism and, although from a distance, to perform their tasks in a conscientious and timely manner. The communication activities were entrusted to communication managers appointed by each partner. Their work was at the core of the overall success resulting from WP C_Communications.

The ISTER consortium considers communication activities of crucial importance. The successful completion of the project could only be possible after the successful diffusion of knowledge, which enabled raising awareness and the engagement of potential supporters, end users and customers.

During the first period, the ISTER communication activities have been focused on two aspects. On one hand, defining and deploying collaboration and communication tools in order to help ISTER consortium partners to work collectively and efficiently. On the other hand, to communicate ISTER’s efforts through its official media channel and those of the partners.

In order to increase the visibility of the project and to create a place for the exchange of experience and knowledge between the project partners and the stakeholders at the beginning of the project, ISTER profiles have been created on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. A total of 53 posts have been published there, which report 8915 views for the period October 21 - December 14, 2020.

In addition, the partners use their media channels to post information in their national language related to the project, its overall results and good practices. The analytics once again prove the strength of the consortium and the correct selection before the individual efforts. The posts of the partners for the same period add another 46082 views. In addition, all this happens in the initial phase of the project when there are no concrete results and deliverables available for supporting focused communication.

The number of online publications in external media were 17 with a total number of 29071 views. Thus, the information published in the various digital media within the first period of the ISTER project had 84068 views.

The ISTER project’s communication activities shall continue throughout the entire duration of the project involving all the consortium members.