The Alchemist

For a more sustainable world

June 2025. In Reykjavik, Iceland, Marie Perrin received the "World Builders" award at the Young Inventors Prize, a distinction bestowed by the European Patent Office. This prestigious prize rewards inventors who develop concrete solutions for a more sustainable and resilient world in the face of contemporary environmental, economic, and social challenges.

For the young researcher, this recognition marks the culmination of several years of work during which she developed REEcover, an innovative technology for recycling rare earth elements from electronic waste.

When waste becomes a resource 

Rare earth elements are the metals essential to manufacturing our modern technologies - from smartphones and LED screens to wind turbines and electric vehicle motors. However, their extraction remains highly polluting and concentrated in just a few regions of the world, posing major environmental and geopolitical challenges.

These precious metals are present in large quantities in our waste. Used fluorescent tubes, obsolete electronic equipment, etc. these are untapped "urban mines." The method developed by Marie Perrin allows for the recovery of europium from spent fluorescent tubes, it is used notably in screens and low-energy lighting. Unlike traditional industrial processes, REEcover is inspired by natural chemical mechanisms, eliminating the use of toxic solvents and drastically reducing energy consumption and hazardous waste production.

From Research to Entrepreneurship 

A dual French-American citizen, Marie Perrin grew up between Houston and France before pursuing an international academic path: studying chemistry in Toulouse, Paris, Boston, and then Zurich. It was during her PhD at the prestigious ETH Zurich that she became passionate about the scientific, environmental, and strategic issues related to rare earth elements.

After a brilliant university career, she made a decisive choice: to transform her research into a concrete solution. She co-founded startup REEcover in Grenoble with the clear ambition of moving her technology out of the laboratory. The goal is two-fold: to reduce European dependence on strategic metal imports and to diminish the environmental footprint of their extraction.

Moving from research to entrepreneurship involves developing new skills: raising funds, convincing industrial partners, and learning to speak a language other than that of science. It is a path paved with uncertainty, but one that is beginning to bear fruit. REEcover’s technology is already attracting interest from industrial players, even as adaptations remain necessary for large-scale deployment.

Inspiration

During her award ceremony, Marie Perrin emphasized the importance of making science accessible and purpose-driven: "To innovate is also to think of future generations. Every idea can become a solution for our planet."

Her journey powerfully illustrates what responsible science can look like and serves as a source of inspiration for an entire generation of inventors - particularly for women wishing to engage in scientific research and technological entrepreneurship.