"To provide the region with projects that are transformative and beneficial"

3 Questions for… Fabrice Joubert, CEO of Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement

What are your thoughts on the year 2025?

We have stepped up our efforts in our strategic sectors, particularly maritime decarbonization through the Wind for Goods and Poseable events, as well as on Reuse by organizing the “Assises du Reuse” side event to bring together local Reuse stakeholders and host tours of the region for prospective investors and business leaders interested in investing in Nantes Saint-Nazaire. We also continued our mission to bring together local stakeholders, notably through an exploratory mission to Belgium and the Netherlands to draw inspiration from European models of Reuse and sustainable cities.

In a more fragile economic environment, we continued our efforts to identify specific external companies that could usefully complement our value chains.

What lessons have you learned this year?

I was able to speak with each of our thirty administrators (elected officials, members of the board of directors and the general assembly, and representatives of partner networks). Our strength lies in the fact that this dynamic can rely on this essential connection with our governing bodies, with whom we share a common vision of the challenges we face. One of the key points is the need for enhanced action to provide the region with transformative and meaningful projects that help stabilize emerging ecosystems and generate meaningful, sustainable jobs.

We must also continue to strengthen our community engagement efforts so that issues shaping the future are addressed collectively: the “Audacieux” community, the network of members of the Convention Bureau, and new regional or national groups dedicated to environmental and social issues in which we are involved. We are part of these networks to draw inspiration, to grow, and to learn from those who are a step ahead, so that we can better fulfill our role as a catalyst and driving force in supporting the region’s sustainability.  Finally, the agency must be in a state of constant evolution, adapting to the needs of the region and its stakeholders, and relying more heavily on the forward-looking analysis we conduct with our partners.

What are the priorities for 2026?

In line with our governance’s expectations, in 2026 we intend to embark on a new, transformative phase for the agency. Our priority will be to refocus our efforts on our core mission—a selective, targeted, measurable, and shared strategy—which is essential for economic diversification and maintaining a harmonious balance between Nantes and Saint-Nazaire. In particular, our goal is to work together to develop a shared impact framework that strikes a balance between economic, societal, and environmental issues.

2026 will also be a year of support for businesses in the fields of health, industry and energy, the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), Reuse and the circular economy, the Maritime Economy, and low-carbon construction—all aimed at accelerating the transformation underway in key sectors and laying the groundwork for a regenerative economy. This will involve, in particular, scheduling major events such as the third edition of Sur le Pont in Saint-Nazaire, an event dedicated to responsible professional event management, a promotional campaign focused on our strategic sectors such as healthcare, and a unifying occasion to look back on 10 years of economic projects in the region.

2026 will finally be the year in which we formalize the strategic partnerships we are building with institutional stakeholders, clusters, economic networks, and innovation ecosystems. We intend to enhance the quality of strategic debate within our governing bodies in order to provide more opportunities for in-depth discussions that will inform our strategic direction and priorities.

And we are able to achieve these ambitious goals thanks to a strong, dedicated, multidisciplinary team capable of facilitating sessions that foster collective intelligence through innovative formats, in collaboration with private and public partners.

• The governing body of Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement consists of 16 organizations: Nantes Métropole, Saint-Nazaire Agglo, the Nantes Saint-Nazaire Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), the Loire-Atlantique Chamber of Trades and Crafts, Pays de la Loire Region, Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port, University of Nantes, Nantes University Hospital, Ecossolies, Dirigeants Responsables, Pôle EMC2, French Tech Nantes, French Tech St-Nazaire La Baule Pornic, Neopolia, Higher Institute of Maritime Economics (Isemar), Meet 2050 Institute.