Regions / France-USA-Today
“We’re shaping a globally connected Mediterranean metropolis”
Christian Estrosi has led a bold transformation of Nice – balancing heritage with forward-looking innovation.
Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice
Mayor of Nice since 2008, French politician and former motorcycle champion Christian Estrosi has led a bold transformation of the city – balancing heritage with forward-looking innovation. In this exclusive interview, he shares his vision for positioning Nice as a global hub for technology, sustain ability, and culture in the heart of the Mediterranean.
How are you reinventing Nice for the 21st century?
Over the past decade and a half, my vision has been to position Nice as more than just a jewel of the French Riviera. We are shaping a modern, globally connected Mediterranean metropolis – one that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation.
Our mission has been to preserve the city’s rich cultural and architectural heritage while simultaneously embracing the future through digital transformation, environmental leadership, and international engagement.
How is Nice contributing to science and innovation?
Nice is becoming a European reference point for sustainable urban planning, scientific research, and entrepreneurial dynamism. We’ve forged strong partnerships with global institutions, particularly in the United States, across sectors like aerospace, healthcare, higher education, and clean technology.
Nice is home to international campuses, collaborative research centers, and tech clusters that connect our region to some of the most dynamic ecosystems around the world. Our region is home to world-class research, like the Côte d’Azur Observatory. One of our scientists, Patrick Michel, leads the Hera mission with NASA to monitor asteroid threats. We also collaborate with U.S. universities on space, climate science, and medical research – especially in cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
How is Nice leading in sustainability?
Nice’s 2050 carbon neutrality plan is already advancing, with solar and hydrogen pilots, urban cooling strategies, and the replacement of 70 hectares of impermeable surfaces by 300,000 trees. We’ve reduced cruise traffic to limit sulfur emissions, and are investing in electric and renewable public transportation.
From the mountains to the sea, Nice is turning ecological urgency into economic opportunity – creating fertile ground for ESG-driven investors and climate-tech pioneers alike.
In what ways is Nice evolving beyond its traditional reputation?
We are building a new identity for Nice – one that is intelligent, resilient, inclusive, and out ward-looking. Whether it’s hosting major international events, attracting global talent, or leading climate-conscious urban policy, we want Nice to serve as a model for the kind of European city that is fully aligned with the values and needs of this century.
Nice is no longer a sleepy Riviera town. We’ve grown from 23,000 students in 2008 to nearly 60,000 today, driven by institutions like Université Côte d’Azur, EDHEC, and SKEMA. We host major global events like the Ironman World Championship, Nice Carnival, film shoots for Netflix, and concerts in a 40,000-seat arena. This makes the city vibrant, youthful, and creative.
