As President of CleantechAlps, Serge Gaudin bridges industry and sustainable transition
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, CleantechAlps is launching the “15 Years – 15 Faces”
initiative, highlighting individuals who are actively shaping the cleantech ecosystem Switzerland. Among them, Serge Gaudin—an engineer by training and seasoned industrial leader—embodies the intersection of technology, industry, and sustainability. His commitment as President of CleantechAlps reflects a desire to promote practical solutions for a more responsible future.
With a background in the aluminum industry, particularly at Novelis, Serge Gaudin experiences firsthand how innovation can accelerate the shift to sustainable practices. “Innovation will remain a driving force in developing new technologies that allow industry to advance its sustainability strategy—both in terms of direct emissions and the circular economy.”
In his operational role within the Automotive Cluster in Sierre, Serge Gaudin continues this mission by supporting the integration of low-carbon industrial solutions directly within production lines.
Among the concrete examples he cites is the electrification of heat treatment processes—previously powered by gas—which reduces carbon footprints while improving energy efficiency. “New technologies need to achieve both.”
Artificial intelligence and circularity: key levers for impact
For Serge Gaudin, the future also lies in the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, and the Internet of Things—enabling the detection and exploitation of previously invisible efficiency potential. “The data is already there—but often underused. AI can uncover hidden opportunities for optimization directly on equipment and production processes.”
Another cornerstone for Serge Gaudin is the circular economy—a domain he knows well. “Today, the world is only 8% circular. There’s still everything to do. And when I talk about short supply chains, I’m thinking at the scale of a continent, like Europe.” Reducing environmental impact, for Serge Gaudin, means reclaiming and revalorizing materials locally.
A motivation rooted in both industry and the mountains
It was through his career in aluminum recycling that Serge Gaudin fully grasped the importance of sustainability—not only as an industrial lever, but as an environmental responsibility. “I realized just how much recycling can reduce the overall impact of an industrial activity.”
But his awareness also comes from personal passions—especially ski touring—where the visible retreat of glaciers, particularly in Valais, leaves a mark. “I look at the glaciers disappearing with concern.” This dual perspective—as both industrial leader and mountain enthusiast—is what drives Serge Gaudin to champion sustainable solutions.
Targeting needs, listening to industry
As President of the CleantechAlps Expert Committee, Serge Gaudin encourages innovative startups not to move forward in isolation. “Take time to engage with Swiss industrial players. Their needs are vast and varied. You must focus on the right priorities to achieve fast and concrete impact.”
For Serge Gaudin, Switzerland offers fertile ground for this: “Our political system, entrepreneurial mindset, and the close ties between universities and SMEs create an agile ecosystem. And agility is essential to embed sustainability into a growth strategy.”
More information: : www.novelis.com
Serge Gaudin’s favorite quote
“Between possible and impossible, there are only two letters—and a state of mind. ”
– General de Gaulle
On the night of June 29, 2024, the Rhône river overflowed in Sierre, flooding the Sous-Géronde district and devastating Novelis’s aluminum production site. During the months of rebuilding, Serge Gaudin addressed his teams every day. One message kept coming back:
“We will make the impossible possible.”
This conviction became a collective mantra. Even today, Serge Gaudin remains inspired by this quote from General de Gaulle, which he often cites with conviction. A philosophy he applies equally in times of crisis and in driving the energy transition.
A circular economy expert committed to the transition
An EPFL-trained mechanical engineer, Serge Gaudin built his career in the aluminum industry—first at Alusuisse, then Alcan and Novelis—leading major industrial projects in Switzerland and France. A specialist in circular economy processes and materials recycling, he spearheaded the development of the Sierre foundry, which has since become a global center of excellence for low-carbon technologies.
After serving as Vice President of Metal Strategy and Recycling at Novelis Europe, and later as European Director of Sustainability, Serge Gaudin now serves as Operational Director of the Automotive Cluster in Sierre and is founder of the Net Zero Lab Valais. He continues to advance the energy transition through his role as President of the CleantechAlps Exepert Committee.
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.
