Watertracks chooses Fribourg for its first Swiss subsidiary

Watertracks, a French start-up founded in 2016 and based in Occitanie, has opened its first Swiss subsidiary in the canton of Fribourg.

Founded by Frédéric Gauch and Raphaël Gaillard, experts in the marine, civil engineering and public works sectors, Watertracks has signed a nine-year framework agreement with EDF to operate several robots in the lakes of hydroelectric dams. The start-up also aims to export, particularly to the Alps in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, due to the stable sediment activity in these regions.

Designed to neutralize the effects of dams on sediments, Nessie, a 15-ton robot, pumps sediments upstream of dams to release them downstream, respecting natural thresholds and diluting sludge and sediments in the turbined water. This process provides significant safety and turbine protection benefits. Currently controlled by operators from the river bank, Nessie will become “highly autonomous” in the medium term.

Watertracks has filed several European patents covering the robotic aspects and the excavator head of Nessie. In addition, the company has recently acquired land near Nîmes to build its production facility and has raised EUR 1.2 million to finance its development projects.

The decision to locate in Fribourg was motivated by the city’s strategic geographic location, which facilitates access to the Alpine markets. The creation of the Swiss subsidiary was orchestrated by Daniel Aubin, head of the subsidiary, and supported by various partners including Greater Geneva Bern area (GGBa) and the Fribourg Development Agency (FDA).

This new subsidiary represents an important step in Watertracks’ expansion in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and strengthens its position as a leader in robotic underwater work solutions.