 
So much more than a website!
Here is where science meets design, and if you first thought that you will just need something simple and basic to tick the communication box of your proposal, then we are so pleased you are reading this! We are now in our tenth year of providing web design, intranet development (more on that in a short while) and virtual exhibition websites (more on that too) for European Commission and Innovate UK-funded projects, so we are very well-versed about what really works, what is accepted by proposal evaluators, and what has proven to be invaluable to partners within the consortium.
But first, let’s talk about why you are here in the first place and to help answer your question “How much should I budget for this European Commission-funded project website?”
The short answer is between €4990-€6000 (depending on the project lifespan and whether any updates are required during that time).
To help you with your proposal, here is a breakdown of costs and recommended budget:
- Conceptual Logo Design (a logo that reflects the theme of the project)
- Website Design and Development (6-7 pages: Home, Project Overview, Consortium, Documents, News, Contact)
- 3500
- Managed Hosting - includes domain name, SSL certificate (for secure browsing) plus ongoing monthly maintenance, security upgrades, back-ups for lifespan of project @ €40/mth x lifespan of project.
- 1440 (3 years €40x36) or €1920 (4 years €40x48)
- Plus if you factor in any unforeseen updates to the website, such as additional text, images or videos, as the projects develops, then we would advise building in that contingency also!
- Total cost:
- 6000
So what is 'conceptual' logo design and do we need it?
I believe the best way to answer that question is by showing what we have done on previous projects and hopefully, you will be able to see the relevance and how these designs have helped to give the project an identity. These logos go on to be displayed at various workshops and events, and so become instantly recognisable.
The Brief:
Repair3D aims at the development of innovative reclamation and repurposing routes for end-of-life plastic and carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) components. This will be achieved by employing advanced nanotechnology solutions, Additive Manufacturing (AM) and recycled resources, for the production of high added value 3D printed products with advanced functionalities.
Conceptual Logo Design:
Our aim was to show reference to the main elements of this project, namely: recyclability and carbon nano materials (Graphene). Above the letter ‘i’ of Repair is the recycle symbol and surrounding the ‘3D’ is the graphical symbol of Graphene.
And below is how the logo was used in a project video:
Next, let’s take a look at Carbo4Power!
The Brief:
Carbo4Power’s main objective is to develop a new generation of lightweight, high strength, multifunctional, digitalized multi-materials for offshore turbine rotor blades that will increase their operational performance and durability while reducing the cost of energy production, maintenance, and their environmental impact.
Conceptual Logo Design:
Graphene was also an important element of this project. As such, we chose to combine three turbines to form the shape of Graphene, framing the number ‘4’. The reference to offshore can be found within the word ‘POWER’ symbolised by the blue waves running through.
Graphosite!
A Graphene Sensor for Defect Detection and Predictive Maintenance in Composite Materials:
Oyster!
OYSTER: Open characterisation and modelling environment to drive innovation in advanced nano-architectured and bio-inspired hard/soft interfaces. OYSTER uses contact mechanics to bridge adhesion data at multiple length scales and link interfacial adhesion to physicochemical properties.
Conceptual Logo Design:
With this design, we focused on the contact mechanics element. The ‘Y’ in OYSTER is the shape of the stylus used in the manufacturing process.
And here are a few more examples:
So, as you can see, logos, so often overlooked, play a very important role in project websites. They are the identity of the project, and give all partners within the consortium, something they can proudly claim to be part of.Â
The project website:
Thank you for reading thus far, hopefully, you are finding this useful.Â
Your project website is the focal point and place of learning, not just for associated EU members, Â but for the general public as well as potential stakeholders who may be interested in the resulting product that follows the successful completion of the research. So, it has to grab the attention of those that visit the site, it needs to engage them and allow them to leave with the knowledge of what your fabulous research is all about. It is also an excellent resource for obtaining contact information of the project coordinator and disseminator as well as providing the entry points into fellow partner websites.
Why not take a look at our current project as of time of writing:
The Intranet! Partners couldn't do without...
Now this, the European Commission love!
So you have multiple partners, each contributing by providing research documentation from each of their sectors. How do you share all of these important documents, without losing them in the ether? Or having to search through received emails, for quite often, large PDF documents. Sure, some of the documents you can indeed place on the project website, but what about those sensitive documents that are not for public consumption? Well we have delivered the answer, and Partners couldn’t do without it… Their own Intranet site.Â
An online repository, where partners within the consortium, can upload and share their documents with other project partners in a secure file-sharing environment.
You can read more about our Hosted Intranet Solution (FirstDRIVE) here:
Virtual Exhibitions
Just imagine it (and yes you can get approval for this too) – an online EXPO – an exhibition hall that has multiple display stands that you can visit individually, each stand ‘occupied’ by each individual partner within the consortium, each bespoke to their business, displaying their products and services as well as the part they play within the research project. Download their promotional materials, watch their promotional videos, visit their website or simply click on the email symbol to contact them directly. Well, now you can!
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Disclaimer: The Virtual EXPO (for use within European Commission & Innovate UK funded projects) concept, was the brainchild of CNT UK Ltd owner: Dr Bojan Boskovic. As such, our Virtual Exhibition services are in collaboration with CNT UK Ltd and CNT Innovation (Belgium).
For more information on everything we have discussed here, please visit our European Commissions and INNOVATE UK page here
