The Committee members identify cleantech trends and strategic growth areas and draw up recommendations for CleantechAlps. This instrument gives CleantechAlps cross-sector expertise at the leading edge of innovation and a reliable presence in each canton. Below are the members of the CleantechAlps Committee of Experts.
Jean-Luc Thuliez (BE)
Having originally trained as a plastics processing engineer, Jean-Luc Thuliez became a pioneer in electric vehicle development. He was involved in the Swatch Mobile venture in the 1990s and worked under Nicolas Hayek at The Swatch Group. A serial entrepreneur, he collaborated with Volkswagen and Mercedes before founding several companies: Cree (1998), Domteknika (2003), Softcar (2011) and Aventor (2014).
Werner Halter (FR)
Having gained a masters in geology at the University of Lausanne and a PhD at McGill University in Montreal, Werner Halter worked as an Assistant Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ). In 2008 he left academia to take up the position of CEO of Swiss Climate SA, a CO2 emissions and sustainable development consultancy company. In 2013 he founded his own CO2 strategy consultants, Climate Services SA.
Serge Gaudin (VS)
An EPFL graduate in mechanical engineering, Serge Gaudin built his career in the aluminum industry, first with Alusuisse, then with Alcan and Novelis, managing major industrial projects in Switzerland and France. A specialist in circular economy processes and materials recycling, he steered the development of the Sierre foundry, which has become a center of excellence for low-carbon technologies. After serving as Vice President of Metal Strategy and Recycling at Novelis Europe, then European Director of Sustainability, he is currently Operational Director of the Automotive Cluster in Sierre and founder of Net Zero Lab Valais. He continues his commitment to the energy transition by chairing the CleantechAlps expert committee.
Jean-Christophe Zufferey (VD)
Jean-Christophe Zufferey holds a degree in engineering from the EPFL and a doctorate in science. He founded and managed senseFly, a drone start-up that enjoyed rapid growth before being taken over by an international group. Committed to innovation and entrepreneurship, he has solid experience of the start-up/scale-up and investment worlds. A flight instructor and expert in air mobility, he was a member of swiss aeropole’s Board of Advisors. Today, he actively contributes to the energy transition and efficiency in construction with IMPACT LIVING, and supports the promotion of renewable energies with Newatts, among others. He joins the CleantechAlps expert committee to put his experience at the service of sustainable development.
Pierre Renaud (NE)
After graduating from ETHZ with a degree in mechanical engineering, in 1985 Pierre Renaud founded the environmentally conscious engineering firm Planair. Previously Head of Energy Issues at Planpartner and then Metron and at the helm of Planair for more than 30 years, Pierre Renaud is now actively involved in a new engineering company that he founded. He is also a member of various executive boards and associations active in the energy sector.
Gilles Garazi (GE)
Originally awarded a degree in geology, Gilles Garazi has been active in the energy sector for more than 15 years. He worked in federal administration and private business before joining the utilities company SIG more than 10 years ago. At SIG he began working on energy efficiency and in 2015 was appointed Director of Energy Transition, joining the senior management team at SIG.
Patrick Houlmann (JU)
An electrical engineer by training, Patrick Houlmann has been administrator and a board member of RWB Group SA since 2010. He has worked mainly in the water sector, building large-scale water purification plants. In 2010, he helped set up the energy department of RWB Groupe SA, which manages numerous energy projects in French-speaking Switzerland. Over the course of his career, he has occupied a variety of positions at companies including BKW, Solo Fours Industriels and Thermic Service. Patrick has taken an active retirement in 2023 and is regularly called upon as an expert thanks to his multidisciplinary and industrial experience.
