Ontology for an e-participation virtual resource centre

Abstract

E-participation has become an important topic of research and development. DEMO-net, an EC-funded Network of Excellence within the 6th 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.