September 2025
September has been nothing short of extraordinary for REEcover packed with milestones, celebrations, and exciting opportunities for the road ahead! 🌍⚡
🏆 3Pi Pitch Competition – Double Win!
What an unforgettable evening at the 10th anniversary of the 3Pi Pitch Competition and the 15-year celebration of the ETH Pioneer Fellowship program! Marie took home not just the 1st Jury Prize, but also the Audience Award 🎉🥳 Congratulations as well to fellow winners Martin Stadler (QENDRA) and Giorgia Greter (Baxiva)!
A huge thank you to Zürcher Kantonalbank for sponsoring the award, the Pioneer Fellowship team & ETH Entrepreneurship for their incredible support, and to Michael Stucky & Kaspar Binz for top-notch pitch training. 🌟🚀
🧪 First Sprint Meeting
The first sprint milestone of our ETH Pioneer Fellowship journey is complete . Four months in, and the focus is now shifting strongly to advancing the technology. Exciting progress is ahead! 🔬⚡
👕 First Team Event
Our team got creative this month with our very first social event: Marie, Leonie, and Maria connected online to teach everyone how to embroider REEcover-branded tee-shirts. Not bad at all for a first attempt, and proof that teamwork goes beyond the lab! ✂️💚
🌱 Supporting Founders & Women in Entrepreneurship
Marie joined the Talent Kick program as an official scout so feel free to reach out if you’re curious about applying (portal open until November 23rd!). She also joined the kick-off of the feminno program, inspiring more women to step into the world of entrepreneurship. 💡👩🔬
🎥 Media & Outreach
REEcover was featured in the NZZ Format documentary “Europe in a raw materials frenzy – how we can become independent of Trump and China.”
On top of that, Marie went live on both Radio Canada and RTS to talk about critical raw materials and the future of circularity. 🎤🌍
It’s been a month full of energy, recognition, and momentum and this is only the beginning. Onward to the next chapter of building a circular future with REEcover! ♻️✨
August 2025
August was a month full of fieldwork, inspiration, and big stages for REEcover! ✨
🔧 We kicked off with a warm welcome at BAREC in Moudon, where we had the chance to visit their impressive recycling plant. From there, we collected new samples to put our recycling process to the test. Every partnership like this brings us one step closer to making critical metal recycling a reality. ♻️
🥇 Next, we traveled to La Chaux-de-Fonds to learn from the pioneers of gold recycling at PX Group. Once again, we were warmly welcomed on site — a special moment for us as Leonie had already done a research stay there. Seeing innovation in action keeps us motivated to push the boundaries of what’s possible. 💡
🎾 And to top it all off, Marie took the stage in Paris at La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France (REF), speaking about rare earth recycling on the central court of the legendary Roland-Garros stadium. Sharing the panel with such prestigious voices in the industry, research, and policy was an absolute honor, and a recognition of how urgent and important this mission is. 🌟
📰 August also brought wider recognition: a portrait of Marie was published in the French journal Le Monde, highlighting her journey and commitment to rare earth recycling. 🌟
👩🎓 On top of that, Marie joined the National Conference of the European Youth Parliament in Bern as an expert to guide their debate on critical metal recycling. It was truly inspiring to be surrounded by such passionate high school students, the next generation determined to be actors of their future. 💬💡
We are on a mission to build a sustainable future for rare earths and beyond. 💪 Stay tuned for what September will bring… 🚀
July 2025
This July kicked off an exciting new chapter at REEcover 🚀 with the start of Leonie’s Master’s thesis! She’s diving into the world of separation processes 🔬 starting with model systems to build strong foundations before taking on the big challenge: scaling up to complex lamp phosphor powders 💡 Her work is paving the way for smarter, greener recycling technologies 🌍
On the outreach front, Marie has been spreading the word about the importance of metal recycling far and wide 🎙️! From live on Swiss radio (RTS Première) 📻 to French television (TV5 Monde) 📺, she’s been sharing why critical metal recovery matters for our future – all while connecting with potential collaborators to supercharge our mission 🤝.
The momentum is building ! Stay tuned for what’s next! ✨
June 2025
June brought a moment of immense pride and inspiration for the REEcover team! 🌟
We are incredibly honored and humbled to have received the World Builder Jury Prize at the 2025 Young Inventors Prize awarded by the European Patent Office. 🏆 This prestigious recognition celebrates not only the promise of our rare earth recycling technology but also our mission to drive meaningful change for a more sustainable and circular future. ♻️
The award ceremony in Reykjavik was an unforgettable experience, where we had the privilege to connect with extraordinary young innovators from around the globe. Congratulations to all the finalists, each project showcased the true power of innovation to shape a better world. 🌍👏
This award fuels our determination to keep pushing scientific boundaries and building the future of responsible resource recovery. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported REEcover along the way: this journey wouldn’t be possible without you. 💙
May 2025
May was a truly exciting month at REEcover! Marie officially kicked off her ETH Pioneer Fellowship, an 18-month program funded by the ETH Foundation that supports early-stage startups in turning breakthrough lab research into real-world products. Alongside funding, the fellowship offers world-class coaching, training, and mentoring, everything needed to grow not just a company, but a strong entrepreneurial mindset.
And there’s more to celebrate: it was also revealed that Marie is one of the 10 Tomorrow Shapers nominated for the Young Inventor Prize by the European Patent Office! Selected from hundreds of inventors around the world, this nomination shines a spotlight on her work in rare earth recycling and its potential global impact.
The winner will be announced at the official ceremony on June 18th in Reykjavik, but in the meantime, don’t forget to vote for your favourite inventor on the EPO website!
And to top it all off, Marie was invited to Brussels as a keynote speaker at the European Parliament, where she shared her expertise on rare earth elements recycling at a workshop organized by the European Chemical Society, a powerful reminder of the vital role scientists play in guiding policy decisions for a more sustainable future.
April 2025
April was a month of exciting personal achievements at REEcover! Marie officially received her PhD diploma, a big milestone after years of research and dedication. She also joined the MINTfluencer program, which supports young female scientists in sharing their passion for science online. As part of this initiative, she launched a new science outreach account called @theraredoctor, now live on Instagram and TikTok! Follow along to learn more about rare earths, sustainability, and life as a scientist and founder.
And that’s not all: Marie also ran the Zurich Half Marathon this month! Balancing a startup and long-distance running isn’t easy, but it’s a great reminder that building something meaningful, in science or sport, takes endurance, passion, and the drive to always push your limits.
March 2025
March was all about reconnecting with the startup ecosystem and expanding REEcover’s network. Marie attended the EHS Summit in Amsterdam, where she engaged with potential clients, industry experts, and key stakeholders passionate about how to implement safe and sustainable measures.
She was also a keynote speaker at the Techstars Startup Weekend in Basel, sharing insights and lessons learned from REEcover’s journey so far. Inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs and sustainability pioneers was a fantastic way to kick off the year’s outreach efforts!
February 2025
February marked a return to the lab and exciting transitions. Marie officially stepped into a postdoc position, further deepening her expertise in metal recycling and sustainability research. Even more exciting, we can now share that she will be starting as an ETH Pioneer Fellow in May! This prestigious fellowship will provide essential support for REEcover’s development, helping us scale our technology and bring it closer to market.
January 2025
January was a much-needed break to recharge and refocus. After an intense year, our co-founders, Marie and Maria, took some time off to enjoy a diving adventure in Fujairah. Exploring the underwater world was not just a way to relax but also a reminder of why we do what we do—protecting natural resources and promoting circular solutions for a more sustainable future.
December 2024
December was all about growth and new opportunities. Marie attended an Innovation Breakfast at the ETH Student Project House, where she exchanged ideas with other trailblazing entrepreneurs, including Jessica Droujko, CEO of Riverkin and Lisa Stähli CEO of Hello 50:50 World. It was inspiring to connect with like-minded innovators pushing the boundaries of diversity. On the technical side, we were thrilled to install our first ICP-OES instrument, generously donated by another research group. This powerful tool will allow us to quantify our process efficiency in-house, accelerating our research and bringing us closer to real-world implementation.
November 2024
November was a month of celebration and intense preparation! We were honored to receive the ETH Spark Award, recognizing REEcover’s technology as one of the most promising patents of the year. This achievement reinforced our commitment to revolutionizing critical metal recycling.
Meanwhile, Marie successfully defended her PhD thesis, a major personal and professional milestone.
But there was no time to slow down—she was also preparing for her ETH Pioneer Fellowship jury pitch, which could provide vital support for REEcover’s next steps. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome!
October 2024
All good things must come to an end, and it was time for REEcover to graduate from the Talent Kick Program, during an amazing graduation ceremony hosted by Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich. Thank you for believing in us and guiding our first steps in our entrepreneurial journey !
September 2024
Our patent has been nominated among the top 5 most promising technologies developed at ETH in 2024, the prestigious Spark Award !
After defending our nomination in front of a panel of experts, the winner will be announced in November during the ETH Industry Days.
August 2024
REEcover is in the news ! Following our report on the recovery of europium from spent energy saving lamps, our discovery was highlighted in the ETH news and in several news articles in English (ChemEurope), German (Das Spiegel and F.A.Z), French (RTS and Le Temps), Italian and even in Swedish.
July 2024
This month, Marie attended the European Chemistry Congress in Dublin to present her work on rare earth elements recycling. This conference is organized every two years by the European Chemical Society (EuChemS) and is the largest chemistry conference in Europe with over 1600 participants from all over the world, including two Nobel Laureates.
Marie had been selected as a finalist for the European Young Chemists’ Award, the highest recognition for PhD students in Europe, and could convince both the jury and the audience of the importance of recycling critical ressources and that the process we develop at REEcover lays ground for very promising achievements. She was awarded the gold medal as a recognition of her work !
The conference was also the opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs in the field of green chemistry, with its founding father John Warner, who gave a talk along side Sonja Jost, co-founder and CEO of DUDE Chem.
June 2024
The first publication relevant to our recycling process was published in Nature Communications and is available in Open Access ! Thank you to everyone who has made this possible. Our patent as also been filled after corrections at the European level and should be published by the end of the year.
Then our co-founder Marie successfully presented her PhD work during her PhD Public Presentation on the 4th of June.
The presentation was held on the Hönggerberg campus of the ETH Zurich, and was followed by a lovely apero. Her work will lay the foundation of REEcover, and the expertise she has built in the chemistry of Rare Earth Elements will be much needed.
The activity of the startup will slow down as she is now focusing on writing her thesis and defend in November. But we are always available to discuss with industrial collaborators !
And of course, as the song goes, collect funding for scientific research ;)
April 2024
We kicked off April with a first impactful client meeting, laying the groundwork for exciting partnerships and collaborations ahead. These discussions underscored the growing recognition of the importance of sustainable solutions in the tech industry.
April also marked the end of the Circular Economy Incubator. The Demo Days, held in the Kraftwerk, was a momentous occasion for REEcover. We are humbled and thrilled to be awarded the best pitch by the audience, a validation of our dedication to sustainability and innovation. This honor also secured our extended membership at Impact Hub Zurich, further amplifying our resources and support network.
The momentum continued as Marie, our co-founder, showcased REEcover's vision and impact at the Polypitch event organized at ETH by the tele job student-run association. In front of a distinguished panel of experts, our pitch resonated strongly, earning us the 2nd place and a prize money of 2500 CHF. This achievement not only reaffirms the viability of our business model but also bolsters our financial resources, bringing our total funds raised to an impressive 7500 CHF.
As we reflect on the whirlwind of April, we're energized by the recognition and support we've received. These milestones fuel our determination to push boundaries, innovate relentlessly, and drive meaningful change in the clean tech landscape. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey so far. Together, we're building a more sustainable future, one rare earth element at a time.
March 2024
We were honored to be invited to the Spring Symposium of the young German Chemical Society (JCF) in Ulm, Germany. Marie, our co-founder, participated in a dynamic panel discussion on entrepreneurship in chemistry, alongside esteemed representatives from successful startups like Cyclize, venture capital funds, industry leaders, and even the pioneering founder of Green Chemistry, John Warner. It was an inspiring opportunity to exchange ideas, insights, and visions for the future of sustainable chemistry.
We're thrilled to announce that REEcover was selected to participate in the prestigious >>venture>> competition. While our early-stage status meant we didn't advance to the finals, we're excited to be part of the competition's mentoring program. This invaluable opportunity provides us with access to a diverse range of experts who will guide us as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.
February 2024
Our CEO joined the Talent Kick 2024 Kick-off event at the University of Bern, where she could inspired the new generation of entrepreneurs during a panel discussion on entrepreneurship and studies.
This year, TK partnered with the >>venture>> competition, Switzerland’s leading startup competition, giving the opportunity to pitch in front of a panel of experts. REEcover was awarded the best pitch award from the jury !
Finally, we got the recording of the pitch made during the Startup Nights last November. We are still looking to recruit a Head of Process with a chemical engineer background and a strong drive to help us implement REEcover at an industrial scale.
December 2023.
The Ecosystem Connect Event in Zürich marked the end of the three-month Business Concept course from Innosuisse. REEcover was awarded the third place for the public vote for best pitch, winning the STARTUP CAMPUS Award after pitching in front of a panel of industry professionals, coaches, and investors.
We were warmly welcomed at the BLUBOX site of Veolia in Rubigen, which specializes in the mechanical recycling of spent lamps to recover glass and metal. On the other hand, the phosphor powder rich in REEs and contaminated with mercury is being landfilled. We could collect some of that phosphor powder to study our recycling process on a larger scale.
November 2023.
Thanks to the Talent Kick program, our CEO was able to pitch for REEcover in front of a large audience of entrepreneurs and investors at the biggest startup event in Switzerland: The Startup Nights, in Winterthur. It was un unvaluable opportunity to meet and connect with experienced and successful entrepreneurs.
After pitching during the Circular Economy Incubator Jury Night in Zurich in front of a panel of experts, REEcover was selected to join the National cohort for 23/24. This brings us closer to the Swiss recycling ecosystem and it was truly inspiring to see all the other amazing projects revolving around bringing circularity into our economy.
August 2023.
Eurecycle, rebranded as REEcover, joins the amazing Talent Kick program and with that gains it’s first financial support of CHF 5,000. Being part of the TK community allowed to bring together the co-founding team, and with the guidance and support of mentors to help us set our goals and reach them as effectively as possible.
