Having entered politics at just sixteen, Nicolas MARTIN’s career has always been closely tied to the everyday concerns of his fellow citizens. He first made his mark as a municipal councillor, then as alderman for economic development, urban planning, and tourism. He is particularly noted for his stewardship of the Ambroise Paré University Hospital, which he revitalised and expanded between 2001 and 2014. His role in attracting major retailers and driving the urban transformation of Mons-such as the renovation of Place Nervienne and the revitalisation of the city’s commercial sector-demonstrates both his pragmatism and his ability to unite people around ambitious projects. Since being elected mayor in 2018, Nicolas MARTIN has successfully established himself against prominent political figures and currently leads an unprecedented coalition, a testament to his skill in building consensus beyond traditional divides.
At the Circular Wallonia Days, Nicolas MARTIN will highlight Hainaut’s industrial heritage-a land shaped by coal, sandstone, chalk, and other materials that have defined the region’s identity and prosperity. He will underline the pivotal role played by the Polytech (formerly the Hainaut School of Mines, now part of UMONS) in training engineers and establishing cutting-edge research centres such as Materia Nova and INISMA, which are now driving innovation in materials science. His address will stress the importance of moving from an extractive economy to a circular one, where resource recovery, collaboration between ecosystems, and innovation are central to the region’s strategy. He will commend key regional initiatives and spotlight the collaborative momentum between SMEs, major companies (such as Holcim, Roosens Beton, and Recymex), and economic development platforms like IDEA, where he serves as a board member.
Nicolas MARTIN is distinguished by his determination to connect the local fabric to other European ecosystems, convinced that the transition to a circular economy depends on forging links between stakeholders, sharing knowledge, and spotting opportunities for collaboration. He actively promotes the development of innovation ecosystems, such as Heart for Cleantech, to position Mons and the Heart of Hainaut as key players on the European stage. His commitment to making the region more attractive goes well beyond simply providing land for development; he advocates for an integrated approach, where quality of life, scientific excellence, and the capacity for innovation are inseparable from the area’s economic future.
Through his ongoing dedication and vision, Nicolas MARTIN continues to embody the transformation of an industrial region into one that is circular, innovative, and resilient. His speech at the Circular Wallonia Days promises to be a call for collective transformation, echoing a favourite adaptation of Lavoisier’s maxim: “Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed”-an invitation to turn every encounter into an opportunity, and every idea into an innovation.
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