The RnD Unit at Journe Manufacture: A Collaboration at the Intersection of Science and Craftsmanship

On October 2, 2025, the RnD Unit team visited the Journe Manufacture in Geneva for a day of immersion into the world of watchmaking, combining technical demonstrations with in-depth exchanges with the Maison’s collaborators.

The visit offered an opportunity to observe the precision of gestures, the complexity of mechanisms, and the balance between artisanal tradition and technical innovation, with each action reflecting a commitment to rigor and excellence. The R&D Unit had the privilege of engaging in a dialogue with François-Paul Journe, founder and master watchmaker, who shared his vision focused on innovation and research, aligned with the objectives of Paris Brain Institute.

Twenty Years of Renewed Commitment

Since 2004, F.P. Journe has supported Paris Brain Institute. This commitment has been marked by emblematic initiatives, including auctions of unique pieces, the allocation of a portion of profits from certain models (notably the Centigraphe), and funding for research projects.

In 2024, to mark the 20th anniversary of their partnership, F.P.Journe embarked on a new phase of collaboration focused on developing the R&D Unit F.P.Journe Charity Fund. This new phase of multi-year investment aims to strengthen the unit’s capabilities between 2025 and 2026, both in terms of human resources (recruitment of a specialist engineer) and cutting-edge equipment.

The R&D Unit, renamed the RnD Unit F.P.Journe Charity Fund, is now explicitly recognized as a structure dedicated to the custom design of hardware solutions that meet the needs of the Institute’s research, clinical, and startup teams. A plaque in tribute to F.P.Journe – Invenit et Fecit was unveiled in June 2025 in the presence of François-Paul Journe. It now proudly adorns the front of the RnD Unit workshop. Since its official creation in 2022, this unit has already initiated dozens of collaborative projects—a dynamic that justifies the expansion made possible by this increased support.

Paris Brain Institute acknowledges François-Paul Journe for welcoming its teams during the visit, exemplifying the complementarity between artisanal expertise and scientific innovation — the foundation of a partnership firmly oriented toward the future.

The RnD Unit F.P. Journe Charity Fund will continue to drive this momentum, accelerating the realization of technological projects and promoting the sharing of innovations to advance research.