In recommendation 33, the VRWB elaborates a detailed design for a Flemish portal website for communication about Science, Technology and Innovation. The website is mainly oriented towards young people, but also towards other interested parties such as teachers, journalists, parents and scientific communicators, etc. The portal site bundles all the existing and future initiatives concerning scientific communication in Flanders via web links.
The portal site uses the newest technologies in the area of internet multimedia (cf. vodcasting, pubcasting, podcasting, weblogs, RSS feed, chatbox/forum, search engines, live webcam, etc.). A network of knowledge partners will work together on the contents: universities, university colleges, strategic research centres, expertise cells scientific communication, FWO, IWT, KVAB, Technopolis®, RVO-Society, VRT, companies, federations, popular science journals, newspapers, journalists, etc. Besides, intense collaboration is being discussed with the education sector and the science and innovation sector (see among others Science Information Network). A permanent team consisting of an editorial committee, a PR representative and an IT specialist is present for active, daily support.
The EWI department can research the feasibility and create a business plan. Technopolis® can be requested to elaborate a pilot project.