Le Locle will be home to the new MTTA watchmaking center of excellence by 2028

MTTA, a new watchmaking hub, will open in Le Locle by 2028 to foster innovation and collaboration in the industry.

Le Locle is set to become the home of a new watchmaking competence center by 2028. Dubbed MTTA (Métiers du temps-time arts), this innovative hub aims to revolutionize the traditionally secretive watch industry by fostering collaboration among both large and small industry players. This initiative, orchestrated by the canton of Neuchâtel and Microcity, seeks to accelerate innovation through an ecosystem that encourages open dialogue and partnership.

The project’s development is led by Haute Ecole Arc Ingénierie, intending to transform its Le Locle campus into a pivotal watchmaking hub. Planning started in 2022 under the guidance of Microcity, the innovation arm of the canton of Neuchâtel. According to Jean-Marc Brunner, Director of Microcity, “The majority of major brands and groups are involved; otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.” The inclusion of subcontractors is crucial, as the center is designed to be a hub where the entire sector can engage in dialogue, enhancing synergy and the emergence of creative, innovative solutions.

From a world of secrecy to a world of collaboration

The 54,000 square feet facility will not only house MTTA but also serve as a venue for about thirty small businesses and provide workstations for MTTA operations. The initiative has already rallied numerous industry actors during its test phase, setting the stage for a robust launch. Nicolas Stevan, a spokesperson for Microcity, highlighted the project’s transformative potential: “We aim to change the watch industry from a world of secrecy to a world of collaboration.”

MTTA will be a nonprofit structure, with initial funding modestly set at about one million francs per year for the first few years, to be equally covered by its members, the canton of Neuchâtel and the Confederation, pending approval from the State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI). The platform will eventually finance its development through the services it provides to businesses, adapting to evolving demands and needs without a predefined program.