On Thursday, November 27, His Majesty the King of Belgium visited Materia Nova, a research centre founded by UMONS and an associated partner of the EUNICE alliance.
The event took place at a particularly symbolic moment for UMONS: the year 2025 marks both the 60th anniversary of its Faculty of Sciences and the 25th anniversary of Materia Nova. In a quarter of a century, this research centre has become a major contributor in sustainable innovation, applied research, and technology transfer in Wallonia (French-speaking region of Belgium).
His Majesty was welcomed at the research centre by Prof. Philippe Dubois, Rector of UMONS. The Rector highlighted the honour bestowed upon the university community and its partners by this exceptional visit, which placed the spotlight on technological and sustainable innovation, the energy transition, and the circular economy.
Throughout the afternoon, His Majesty discovered several projects jointly conducted by UMONS, Materia Nova, Haute École Condorcet, and Haute École en Hainaut. The workshops and demonstrations showcased cutting-edge work in areas such as plasma technologies, the development of sustainable materials, the energy transition, and concrete solutions in the field of circular economy. These presentations illustrated the strength of inter-institutional collaborations established to address today’s societal challenges.
One of the highlights of the visit was a special exchange with students from the three institutions. For around forty minutes, the King took the time to speak with them in a friendly setting, generating great enthusiasm among the young attendees.
The visit concluded with the signing of the guest book, a symbolic gesture that permanently inscribes this event in the history of UMONS and Materia Nova. This royal visit highlighted the dynamism of the research carried out by UMONS and its partners and reaffirmed their shared commitment to a more sustainable and innovative future.
