THIS WEEK, IN THE ‘BEHIND THE SCENES’ SERIES, WE’RE SPEAKING WITH EU PROJECT ACCOUNT MANAGER AT CARR COMMUNICATIONS (CARR), MARIA CAROLAN. MARIA WILL BE TELLING US ABOUT HER ROLE AND THE ROLE OF CARR WITHIN THE TANGO PROJECT.

Thanks for speaking to us today. Could you start by introducing yourself and telling us where you are based?

Hello, I am Maria Carolan and I work for Carr Communications (CARR) as an EU Project Account Manager. I support the communications for the TANGO Project. CARR, based in Dublin, is one of Ireland’s leading SME providers of dissemination, communications, exploitation, education, training, and media consultancy with over 30 full-time and contract employees.

What does your typical working day in the TANGO project involve?

We plan and produce communication and dissemination materials, manage social media and online campaigns, and monitor relevant media coverage and policy developments. We maintain daily communication with partners and key stakeholders to coordinate activities, raise awareness, and stay informed about events and publications. When creativity is needed, we brainstorm or collaborate with our in-house design team.

What is your main task in the TANGO project?

My primary responsibility is to oversee the communication and dissemination of the project. Together with Claudia Esposito, we develop and execute communication and dissemination strategies and coordinate clustering activities. We ensure that all results are accessible to relevant stakeholders and clearly communicate why these results are of interest, beneficial, and relevant to them. Additionally, I manage the social and digital media aspects of the TANGO project. My daily tasks involve creating written and some graphic content for the project’s website, Twitter, and LinkedIn. As the project progresses, and partners write research papers and obtain results, it is our obligation to disseminate them. Online media plays a significant role in raising awareness and fostering engagement with these pieces and the project.

What do you like most about your role?

Being involved in a Horizon funded project focused on Human AI collaboration and Ethical AI synergistic systems, allows us to collaborate with exceptionally talented individuals, apply our skills creatively, and continually learn about new and innovative AI solutions.

How do your professional interests match the objectives of TANGO?

I like to learn and explore new areas, industries and projects. I also enjoy creating engaging and informative communications. TANGO offers me the opportunity to interact with stakeholders I may not have encountered before and contribute to creating change in a dynamic AI projects world. 

What makes your organisation ideal for participating in the research/activities of TANGO?

CARR has been a dissemination partner in EU-funded research projects since 2009, during which time we have worked on 13 projects, in various sectors, including artificial intelligence. Therefore, CARR team has extensive experience in developing relationships with stakeholders across Europe, promoting the projects through key channels, engaging with European policy makers, and managing traditional and digital media campaigns across a range of platforms. Thanks to the long-term of relevant experience, we are ideal as a partner in TANGO.  

Could you describe the overall expected impact of the TANGO project in three words?

Innovative, cross sectoral and beneficial for the society.

What would be your advice to anyone interested in getting involved with a Horizon Europe project?

Horizon Europe calls for proposals are highly competitive, but also rewarding. EU-funded research and innovation projects bring together incredible talent, energy, and ideas from across Europe and beyond. You can work on topics that matter, share your knowledge while developing new skills. It’s worth the effort. 

Thank you for taking the time to speak to us, Maria. We look forward to more updates from the team at CARR. 

To keep up to date with the Behind the Scenes series and all TANGO updates, make sure to follow us on TANGO (@TANGO_horizon) / X (twitter.com) and TANGO LinkedIn