He graduated from EPFL at the Department of Physics in 1986 with a PhD thesis on "Application of Stochastic Methods to the Analysis of Solar Energy Systems.

His main working areas are dedicated to the integration of daylighting and electric lighting;[12][13] the application of nanotechnologies for solar energy harvesting;[14] the implementation of data mining, intelligence and simulation in urban districts;[15][16] the realisation of smart buildings and cities;[17][18] and the integration of renewable energies in buildings.

Scartezzini has been involved in the initiation of several start-up companies such as ShadeMe,[39] kaemco,[40] SwissINSO,[41][42] Solstis, Estia,[43] Rhyner énergie and E4tech Software.

[44] Scartezzini's lab has also issued numerous patents in the field of lighting control, nano-technologies for solar energy conversion and advanced glazing technologies, leading to the launch of start-up and/or spin-off.

Scartezzini's research was featured in various media outlet such as The Daily Californian,[45] RTS,[46][47] Environment Magazine,[48] NZZ,[49] and Le Temps.