With Panatere, Raphaël Broye makes Swiss watches even more sustainable!
To celebrate 15 years of commitment to sustainable innovation, CleantechAlps is launching the initiative “15 Years – 15 Faces”, showcasing the people who shape the Swiss cleantech ecosystem. The aim is to showcase entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators who, through their commitment and vision, are shaping the future of clean technologies in our country. Raphaël Broye, director of the Jura-based SME Panatere, is one of those individuals with a clear sustainability vision—one he applies daily through his entrepreneurial actions. His ambition: to recycle steel and titanium locally using solar energy, thus creating a high-value circular economy in the Jura Arc… and for Swiss watchmaking.
Raphaël Broye’s journey began with a pragmatic observation of the challenges facing his industry. “We noticed fluctuations in the quality of raw materials we received, combined with increasing dependence on international markets for critical metals such as copper, nickel, or titanium.” Faced with rising prices and uncertainty in supply, one question became unavoidable: how to secure raw materials while reducing environmental impact?
The answer was as bold as it was obvious: “Collect, sort, and recycle waste from the local industry, in short loops, and powered by decarbonized energy.” This is how Panatere was born—with the ambition of transforming metal waste into valuable resources.
A unique solar innovation in Switzerland
If solar energy can melt metal, why continue relying on fossil fuels or imported energy? That’s how the idea to develop Switzerland’s first industrial solar furnace emerged. It is currently being deployed in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
In collaboration with academic, technical, and financial partners, Panatere has developed a unique system that concentrates solar rays to reach melting temperatures above 1800°C. “This project embodies our vision: to relocalize, decarbonize, and create a high-value industrial circular economy. It’s no longer a utopia—it’s now a technological and economic reality.”
Convincing the demanding Swiss watch industry of the relevance of recycling was no easy task. “The first challenge is cultural. This industry is exacting and accustomed to very high standards. We had to demonstrate that local recycling is not a compromise on quality, but rather a guarantee of control and traceability.”
Support from the ecosystem
The Panatere success story—still being written—would not have been possible without the support of the Swiss ecosystem. The company has benefited from collaborations with EPFL, HE-ARC, and HES-SO, as well as support from the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment and committed financial partners. “CleantechAlps helped us—and still helps us—by connecting us with the Swiss innovation ecosystem.”
Drawing on his experience, Raphaël Broye sends a clear message to companies still hesitating to integrate sustainability into their strategy: “Taking action is no longer optional. It’s not a trend—it’s a structural transformation of the market. Customers, talents, investors—all are aligning with more responsible business models.”
More informations: www.panatere.com
Raphaël Broye’s favorite quote
“They didn’t know it was impossible, so they did it. ”
– Mark Twain
This quote from Mark Twain, which Raphaël Broye cites as a source of inspiration, perfectly reflects the spirit driving Panatere.. Facing the considerable challenge of transforming the traditional mindset of an industry as conservative as Swiss watchmaking, many would have considered the endeavor impossible. Recycling local metal waste using solar energy to create precision materials for luxury watches? The idea seemed bold—perhaps even utopian. This philosophy also speaks to entrepreneurs who hesitate to launch their ecological initiatives. “Start small, but start,” says Raphaël Broye.. It is precisely by ignoring those who say “it’s impossible” and moving forward step by step that sustainable innovation advances.
Recycling in Switzerland instead of exporting Swiss steel
With its solar furnace and metal recycling initiatives, Panatere is addressing a large market. According to federal statistics, across all industries, Switzerland imports 140,000 tons of steel and exports nearly 52,000 tons in the form of shavings. “The idea is to recover just a few percent of what is exported and reprocess it in Switzerland to supply the approximately 600 SMEs in the Jura Arc with raw materials in a nearly self-sufficient way,” explains Raphaël Broye enthusiastically. The initial investment for Panatere’s infrastructure is around nine million Swiss francs—a relatively modest sum compared to the environmental benefits of processing metals locally rather than exporting them.
Panatere perfectly embodies the vision of a high-value circular economy, creating a symbiosis between the watchmaking excellence of the Jura Arc and sustainability principles. This SME is a concrete example of how cleantech can strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of traditional sectors like Swiss watchmaking. CleantechAlps is proud to count on such inspiring ambassadors!
The 15-year anniversary concept
For the past 15 years, CleantechAlps has been committed to advancing its vision and connecting talents, stakeholders and solutions that drive the transition toward a more sustainable future in Western Switzerland. To mark this anniversary, we wish to highlight the individuals who bring our ecosystem to life every day — through their projects, their dedication and their vision.
“15 Years – 15 Faces” features fifteen personalities, fifteen journeys, fifteen voices that embody cleantech. From technology to policy, from research to industry, from local to international — these women and men are building, each in their own way, the cleantech solutions of today and tomorrow. Through their stories, we share with you the successes to which CleantechAlps has contributed — notably by serving as a facilitator of connections, dialogue, and collaboration. Discover their passion. Their inspiration. And their vision for a more sustainable future.
