(ANSA) - TRIESTE, AUG 3 - The expertise of Friuli Venezia Giulia in the field of design, manufacturing and certification of shipbuilding components will be among the participants in the 2nd edition of the ''Transnational Blue Energy Lab'', to be held in Malta from 12 to 14 November. The event, focusing on ''Transferring knowledge on Blue Energy: technology innovations, clustering, funding opportunities and environmental challenges'', is part of the European project Maestrale, co-funded by the European Fund for Regional Development, as part of the Interreg Med Program.

Mistral involves 11 partners from 8 countries (Greece, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia) with the aim of developing a common vision and strategy in order to enhance the importance of the Mediterranean Sea as a source of sustainable energy.

Italy has two Blue Energy Labs (BEL, open tables involving institutions, universities, civil society and businesses), which are based in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Tuscany, organized respectively by the Informest Agency, supported by MARE FVG (Maritime technology district) as a technical partner, and the Department of Physical, environmental and terrestrial sciences (Ecodynamics Group) of the Siena University, leading partner of Mistral.

The FVG-based BEL will bring two pilot projects to Malta: the first one is linked to the ''difficulties in applying to the Adriatic Sea all the technologies available in the field of offshore wind energy on the naval mechanical components'', the second one is linked to the exploitation of micro-algae for the production of bio-fuels. The blue economy is considered by the European Union as one of the most strategic and growing sectors with a turnover of 566 bn euros, revenues of 174bn euros and almost 3.5m people employed. (ANSA).