Austria
Hannes is a former Innovation Evangelist and Strategic Director of Innovation Ecosystems at Swarovski, where he networked with partners from different science and technology fields and facilitated collaborative innovation projects across the organization. With over 30 years of experience in open innovation and strategic alliances, Hannes is a visionary leader and a passionate advocate for transforming ideas and technologies into fashion and luxury products. He was recognized with the Best Open Innovation Award from Zeppelin University in 2015 for his achievements in establishing and integrating an open innovation network into Swarovski's internal innovation processes. He is also an international keynote speaker and a published author on innovation management topics, sharing his expert knowledge and insights with global audiences and communities. Hannes is driven by his mission to create value and impact through innovation and collaboration, and to inspire others to do the same. Over the course of more than four decades, he played a key role in shaping Swarovski’s innovation culture. Throughout his career, Erler collaborated with some of the most influential innovation scholars and practitioners worldwide, including Robert G. Cooper (Stage-Gate®) or Clayton Christensen (Disruptive Innovation). His work bridges industrial practice, academic research, and cultural-spiritual perspectives. In his new book "The Innovation Tribe" (2026), he weaves together learning stories, systemic models, and human-centered insights drawn from global business, indigenous wisdom, and modern neuroscience. At its heart lies his conviction that innovation must be more than technological progress—it must empower people and serve the planet. Today, Hannes Erler is an acclaimed speaker, author, and mentor, inspiring executives, organizations, and students worldwide. He is a frequent lecturer at international conferences, masterclasses, and universities (including RMIT Melbourne and the University of Innsbruck), speaking on innovation ecosystems, ambidexterity, AI&serendipity, and value-driven transformation. Privately, he lives with his family in Tyrol, Austria. He draws strength from nature, music, and spiritual practice, seeing himself as a lifelong learner, exploring the interplay between technology, culture, and humanity.
After my retirement from Swarovski, I embarked on a new journey of writing a book that encapsulates my 40+ years of experience in innovation development, organizational evolution, and leadership. It is an opportunity for me to share the lessons I've learned along the way and inspire others to pursue their own paths of growth and leadership. I am also open to supporting people in challenging innovation roles.
Network with partners from different science/technology fields and transform technologies and ideas into fashion/luxury industries.
As specialist in open innovation with a core focus on inter-organizational collaboration and strategic alliances, Hannes serves as Strategic Director of Innovation Ecosystems aiming to connect and leverage relevant science and business ecosystems based on a new model of “Innovation Ecosystem Logics” with a particular focus on technology scouting and disruptive strategies.