ontology for an e-participation virtual resource centre
E-participation has become an important topic of research and development. DEMO-net, an EC-funded Network of Excellence within the 6 th Framework Program of the EC, investigates this field of research and practice. To provide the knowledge gathered in the project in a structured way to different audiences, a (virtual) centre of excellence shall be developed and implemented. Such a knowledge portal shall serve as a central entry point for the various stakeholders to a) learn about the field e-participation and its characteristics from a scientific perspective, b) to provide an instrument to further structure the field, c) to thematically cluster projects and knowledge, and at the same time d) to provide a practical instrument for the users to overview the projects and knowledge in the field. The virtual resource centre shall enable stakeholders to find relevant information and knowledge on e-participation in an effective way. To structure that information and to provide it in a reasonable way, an e-participation ontology seems to be a proper concept. The contribution will introduce a draft of the e-participation ontology, which is being developed among partners in the project. The ontology is based on scientific findings which have been developed along the first period's activities in the project.
ontology e-participation virtual resource centre