The operation and aims of the e-KNOWNET will need to build on common understanding, sharing of know-how and cooperative developing of insights. This process will unfold in three stages:

a) The orientation phase which will be concluded upon the completion of the orientation study in the field of ICT-enabled diffusion of scientific knowledge in Europe. This cooperative study will provide a mapping of existing European dissemination routines and structures concerning ICT-enabled diffusion of scientific knowledge and the role (if any) of non-formal intermediary organizations, such as science centres. Key stakeholders and representative organizations in the field (profile and function) will be identified, as well as main user communities served by the key-stakeholders, types of ICT used to facilitate the above processes, educational applications in use (if any), and users’ needs which are not being met. Data collection will be implemented desk-top and web based research, and also through field research using questionnaires sent to selected research organizations / universities, dissemination and life-long learning organizations such as national information and documentation centres, science shops, learned societies and science centres, and through on site study visits to all project partner institutions using participatory observation and sampling qualitative interviews with key staff, in order to valorise the rich experience and practice of the project partners related to production and diffusion of science knowledge and the use ICT for the implementation of life-long learning activities. The study produced will allow the efficient targeting of the potential users of the e-KNOWNET life-learning services, the identification of their learning needs and will give way to the strategic development of a prototype viable network for the diffusion of new science knowledge to the citizen, through learning activities. In other words, the mapping study will help the consortium to better focus and fine grain its targets.

b) The development phase during which the consortium will accomplish the modeling of a prototype ICT-enabled knowledge-sharing network. The model will describe the structure and functions of a viable ICT-enabled knowledge-sharing network, operating in non-formal learning environments. Furthermore, the main knowledge-exchange tool of the project, i.e. the learning ICT platform and its content, will be set up. The platform will act as a showcase of inventive ICT-based learning services and material accessible through the Web, or locally in non-formal environments i.e. science centres. The project will be focusing more precisely on users requirements, based on the results of the previous segmentation study, on specifying the necessary technical and operational support and on organizing and managing the operations of the e-KNOWNET network. All users will be able to join in life long learning activities provided through the portal, inform themselves about current knowledge in the field of Physical Chemistry, about the project, the results and the partners of the e-KNOWNET and find interesting links, sites, events in the selected themes of Physical Chemistry. The portal will be combining different environments, facilitating horizontal and vertical communication: i) a master “European” site for the various learning communities and the general public. It contains all the information about the project. The project coordinator controls the 'European' site ii) an extranet site containing project rooms that are accessible by different groups/users (e.g. partner consortium, different learning communities, stakeholders, science communication officers) and that provide information (documents, news and static pages) to project room members. Main purpose of extranet is to publish and read information for a specific target audience in a disclosed area. Information published: static pages, news items and documents iii) administration site.

The human dimension of the network will be enhanced through study visits between partner organizations and peer-training workshops in science communication. These supporting activities aim at the exchange of useful experience and practices among partners and also capacity building that will enable the partners to cooperatively develop LLL material applicable on the portal. The existing know-how of the network partners as well their facilities will be used in order to ensure the viability of the tool (i.e. GRNET will provide its ICT infrastructure which today interconnects higher and secondary educational communities of Greece). Activities to strengthen the network identity and promote its branding will be realized, e.g. issuing the “manifesto” of the network (aims, values, principles of the network), drafting a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperating organizations/entities etc.

c) The expansion phase will be the final stage of the e-KNOWNET project. This is the phase for full exploitation and dissemination of the e-KNOWNET initiative and its outcomes, across the various fields related to non-formal education and ICT-enabled learning in Europe. Extended networking will take place through interconnections with national, European and international networks, and links with key stakeholders and influential multipliers’ associations in the field of non-formal and ICT-assisted education. The consortium will seek to a) feed project results into research development and policy making b) achieve multiplication effects through the involvement of administrators of educational portals/nets, ICT experts specializing in education, museum educators journalists specializing in ICT-enhanced education, and last but not least c) to help create opportunities for cross-disciplinary dialogue upon issues such as the theory and practice of life-long learning and e-learning, the role of formal education institutions in this LLL field, comparative analyses of various European LLL systems, identify trends and prospects of LLL, ICT applications, e-learning, developing special learning material for ICT use, training of LLL educators especially for adult learners, VR systems in le-learning, evaluation of LLL, innovative case studies etc. A Networking manual will help sharing the accumulated project experience and guide future replications of the initiative. A series of awareness raising and dissemination activities will take place, addressing learning communities, relevant stakeholders, existing networks, learned societies, general public and the mass media.