Crossed faces at the FSRM

10:10 1st EVENTS & PEOPLE JSH® PRINT OPINION WHO’S

8 Sep, 11:52

Temps de lecture : 2 minutes

Read in JSH: Sebastian Gautsch is leaving his position as director of the microtechnology department at EPFL to take over as director of the Fondation Suisse pour la Recherche en Microtechnique. He is replacing Philippe Fischer, who passed away unexpectedly.

Read the Philippe Fischer interview (2019) in JSH (French only)

For 35 years, Philippe Fischer has been the face of the FSRM, a leading institution for professional development. The Journal Suisse d’Horlogerie JSH announced in its EPHJ 2025 issue that he was preparing to step down for a well-deserved retirement. However, just a few days before this happy perspective, he passed away quite abruptly, leaving a huge void around him, both for his loved ones and for the entire watchmaking industry.

Sebastian Gautsch is therefore taking up his post in a context of sadness and bereavement. This scientist, whose work contributed in particular to the sending of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) aboard the Mars Phoenix mission in 2008, can count on a close-knit team and a supportive welcome.

Sebastian Gautsch

Sebastian Gautsch will undoubtedly continue the achievements of Philippe Fischer, who was so involved in the community life of the sector. In the 1990s, he initiated continuing education activities, making the FSRM a major player in the industry today, with a network of over 200 specialised trainers.

Philippe Fischer’s commitment has contributed greatly to the foundation’s influence, particularly through the development of new pioneering projects, including FSRM-Kids, a moving initiative that raises awareness of science and technology among young people. In addition, he never shied away from getting personally involved in a number of sectoral events, such as the local organizing of the European Frequency and Time Forum (EFTF) and his chairmanship of the Chronometry Competition Committee, an event that was the subject of a special edition of JSH.

FSRM-Kids, a moving initiative that raises awareness of science and technology among young children. Photo: Educational Clock

FSRM (Official)

FSRM-Kids Initiative

✍ Joel A. Grandjean

Chief editor & publisher of the online watch magazine "Swiss Watch Passport® (by JSH®)" and of the Swiss watch journal JSH® (founded in 1876). Member of Impressum, PressTourim and Club Suisse de la Presse, this Ivory Coast-born Swiss, descendant of a family of watchmakers, co-founded the magazines Montres Passion & Uhren Welt at Ringier in 1993 with Kenan Tegin, as well as the Prix Montre de l'Année. Founded in 2005, his press agency TàG Press +41 contributes to some twenty media. These include Journal Suisse d'Horlogerie (2008-2014), Heure Suisse/Schweiz and Année Horlogère, F/D/E (2011-2014), Watchonista.com (2013-2019). In 2019, he founded and chaired "JSH Archives & Patrimoine" to relaunch the Swiss watchmaking journal JSH. Then in 2021, he built on his very first editorial venture, the "bloghorloger.ch" founded in 2003, to come back online with the Swiss Watch Passport® (by JSH®). Joël A. Grandjean is a member of the SSC, the Swiss Society of Chronometry, and of the jury of the Prix Gaïa, aka the "Nobel of watchmaking" awarded since 1992 by the MIH, Le Musée International de l'Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

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