Albert Borschette Congress Center – 7th – 10th of october 2024
SMILE – Small Island Love Empowerment Communities
SMILE – SMall Islands Love Empowerment communities is Sicilian Region’s innovative initiative for regional smart growth through sustainable development involving Sicilian and Mediterranean small islands.
The SMILE initiative aims to facilitate the sharing of experiences in sustainable development, natural resource preservation and resilience to climate change across Sicily’s small islands, including 5 cohesion projects all geared towards fostering efficient, innovative, and eco-conscious growth.
Presentation of the “I-Sole” project – PO FESR 2014-2020
October 8th | 9:30 to 10:30 AM
October 9th | 10:15 to 10:45 AM
October 10th | 11:45 to 12:15 AM
I-Sole is a project designed for the smaller islands, for greater exploitation of renewable sources, through the development of innovative, low-cost and easy-to-install technical solutions for monitoring, control of power generation and distribution.
For more information about the I-Sole Project: download the information sheet
Presentation of the “Re-Né” project – Italia-Tunisie
October 8th | 10:15 to 10:45 AM
October 9th | 11:00 to 11:30 AM
October 10th | 10:15 to 10:45 AM
The project aims to implement an innovative “international model” for waste reduction and reuse, tested in Italy and Tunisia and later replicated across the Mediterranean. It targets businesses, consumers, youth, and institutions as key actors in the shift towards a circular economy, promoting better coordination and equitable sharing of costs and benefits.
For more information about the Re-Né Project: download the information sheet
Presentation of the “MED Dé.Co.U.Plage” project – Italia-Tunisie
October 8th | 11:00 to 11:30 AM
October 9th | 11:45 to 12:15 AM
October 10th | 9:30 to 10:00 AM
The project focuses on implementing innovative models and harmonized practices to prevent, reduce and reuse plastic waste, along with sustainably managing Posidonia oceanica deposits. Specific actions are being carried out in the Egadi Islands of Italy and the Mahdia and Kerkennah areas in Tunisia, aimed at promoting eco-friendly beaches and fostering the blue economy. These efforts involve utilizing dead plant biomass and recycling plastic waste found on beaches, supported by continuous monitoring.
For more information about the MED Dé.Co.U.Plage Project: download the information sheet
Presentation of the “Corallo” and “Corallo+SI” projects- Italia – Malta
October 8th | 11:45 to 12:15 AM
October 9th | 9:30 to 10:00 AM
October 10th | 11:00 to 11:30 AM
Protecting and restoring biodiversity in marine and terrestrial ecosystems using engaging edutainment tools and non-intrusive infrastructure interventions in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the cross-border area between Malta and Sicily.
CORALLO +SI capitalized on the achievements of CORALLO and AMPPA projects by transferring acquired technologies to new stakeholders and establishing a permanent cross-border network for Marine Protected Area (MPA) management.
For more information about the Corallo Project: download the information sheet
For more information about the Corallo+SI Project: download the information sheet
Regiostars 2024
Regiostars has become Europe’s label of excellence for EU-funded projects that demonstrate the impact and inclusiveness of regional development, since its inception in 2008. By putting forward solutions to common challenges and tapping into the biggest opportunities, REGIOSTARS has inspired regions to deliver ever more impactful EU regional policy.
October 8th | 9:30 to 10:10 AM – Regiostars final round – Bythos project pitch
Bythos utilised side streams from the fish processing industry to create ingredients for human and animal wellbeing. Bioactive molecules with health-promoting properties were extracted for use in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmetics. Remaining organic matter was converted into sustainable fish feed. The main goal was to transfer knowledge to the private sector to foster new value chains and reduce organic waste through the establishment of high-tech startups.
October 9th | 7:00 to 11:00 PM – Regiostars award ceremony & gala night
Tasting Sicilian food experience #tasteofsicily
October 8th | 2:00 to 6:00 PM
#tasteofsicily presents Sicilian wine and agri-food products that constitute the main local production chains, allowing visitors to have a sensory experience of Sicily and appreciate the richness of an island that, in the center of the Mediterranean, has been shaped by a variety of historical influences and has made cohesion a value.