Seen as even more virtuous than the green economy, the regenerative economy is attracting a growing number of players in Switzerland. We spoke with Bertrand Klaiber, head of a start-up accelerator in the field, launched in 2023 at EPFL Innovation Park.
More and more companies in Switzerland are adopting the principle of a regenerative economy. They are no longer content simply to be sustainable by limiting their environmental impact, but aim to restore degraded natural resources and ecosystems. In Lausanne, the Tech4Regen program at EPFL Innovation Park supports economic actors developing technological solutions that generate value and have a positive impact on ecosystems. Bertrand Klaiber, former entrepreneur and head of the program, outlines its key strengths.
How does the regenerative economy differ from other models focused on environmental issues or the energy transition?
Bertrand Klaiber: Green technologies aim to reduce the environmental impact of industrial activity – whether in terms of energy use, materials, pollution, or waste. They improve the traditional linear economic model, which is based on resource extraction, but without fundamentally challenging it. And yet we know that natural resources are limited.
Since 2023, humanity has exceeded 6 of the 9 planetary boundaries required to maintain Earth’s viability. While the effects may not yet be dramatic in Switzerland, we are already seeing the consequences of these overshoots in a globalized world. For instance, last summer’s Rhône River flooding in Sierre caused over 100 million Swiss francs in damages to aluminum companies Constellium and Novelis. This had a knock-on effect on major automotive groups such as Porsche – whose entire vehicle range includes lightweight aluminum body parts produced by Novelis – with estimated losses between 1 and 2 billion francs. In this context, various actors are mobilizing to develop solutions that regenerate resources, the environment, and the climate. The regenerative economy extends beyond simply reducing environmental impact; it aims for structural change that can restore a stable operating environment, enabling the broader economy to thrive.
At EPFL Innovation Park, are you aiming to improve the situation through the Tech4Regen start-up accelerator program?
Klaiber: Start-ups provide an exceptional testing ground for developing and piloting regenerative solutions – and for showing that real alternatives exist. The entrepreneurs in the Tech4Regen program believe in the possibility of a better world. They’re agile, driven, and, by eventually partnering with larger industrial players, they can help overcome the inertia typical of bigger structures. To join the accelerator, it’s not enough to simply optimize existing processes – you need to drive a genuine paradigm shift. It’s important to note that we don’t help these companies invent new technologies. They’ve already proven their solutions – ideally both in the lab and in real-world conditions. What we provide are the tools to help them scale: support in refining their business models, industrializing production, securing funding, and reaching customers and markets.
Do you have any examples of promising business models?
Klaiber: One of the start-ups in our program, Alien Limited, has developed a solution to eradicate quagga mussels – an invasive species that threatens the biodiversity of Swiss lakes. They've created a system that removes the mussels, extracts limestone from them (which would otherwise be mined), and then sells it to cement manufacturers – all while generating energy in the process. It’s a fully circular model with triple impact. Another example: Gaia Tech and Proseed recover waste from the agri-food industry and transform it into antioxidants for cosmetics, or into high-fiber, high-protein ingredients that can be reintegrated into the food supply chain. Finally, CompPair has developed a repairable composite material – able to recover from scratches, impacts, or loss of strength. This technology can be integrated into existing production lines and helps companies transition toward repair-based services, promoting a service-oriented economy over mass production. It extends the lifespan of composite materials before they become waste.
The annual "Entreprendre pour régénérer" event just took place in Geneva. How would you describe the state of this ecosystem in Switzerland?
Klaiber: Over 300 people attended in Geneva – committed individuals working in government, banking, and private investment. The real challenge now is to get large institutions, industrial companies, and pension funds on board. Long-term foresight – in every sense of the word – should be their main concern.
What advice would you give to a young entrepreneur or SME looking to adopt a regenerative business model?
Klaiber: My first piece of advice is to focus on the impact of your solution, rather than just the impact of your own operations. To put it simply: if you succeed in selling a regenerative solution to a large company that implements it across tens of thousands of products, you'll contribute far more to restoring natural resources than by having your employees ride bikes to work. My second piece of advice is this: never assume you're too small. A project developed at a modest scale can still open up new possibilities – and inspire others along the value chain to follow suit.
