NEW SWAROVSKI REPRESENTATIVE JOINS ADVISORY BOARD 22nd, August, 2018 Glass Futures, the planned Global Centre of Excellence for Glass in R&D, Innovation and Training, announces the appointment of a new Member to the Advisory Board. Joining the Advisory Board is Hannes Erler, Director Innovation Eco Systems at Swarovski Austria. He replaces Gerold Sprachmann as the Swarovski representative. Originally trained in mechanical engineering, Hannes has spent over 30 years leading a variety of Product Development and Innovation departments, teams, organizations, and laboratories. Most recently he has specialized in open innovation with a core focus on inter-organizational collaboration and strategic alliances. In his latest role at Swarowski, he serves as 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. He is the winner of the “Best Open Innovation Award 2015” from the Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen in the category “Open Innovation Networks” and an internationally recognized keynote speaker within the global community of product development and innovation.Hannes extensive experience in innovation and product development will be very valuable to Glass Futures development. Ends/24 August 2018 Notes to Editors: About Glass Futures Glass Futures Limited, a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, has been created as a core entity to allow the evolution of the “Catapult-like” Centre of Excellence in glass comprising R&D, innovation and training and up-skilling. Central to our proposition is a demonstration-scale glass making facility of 30 tonnes per day capacity. www.glass-futures.org Swarovski Group What started in 1895 as a small crystal manufacturing business in Wattens, Austria, has grown to be a leading group of companies. The Swarovski Group comprises Swarovski Optik, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-precision long-range optical products such as telescopes and binoculars; Tyrolit, a leading manufacturer of bonded grinding, cutting, sawing, drilling and dressing tools, as well as a provider of tools and machines for the construction industry; and the Swarovski Crystal Business. Swarovski designs, manufactures and sells highest quality crystal, genuine gemstones, created stones, and finished products such as jewellery, accessories and lighting solutions.The Swarovski Group has revenue of EUR 3.36 billion and employs approx. 32,000 people around the world. www.swarovskigroup.comFor more information contact Richard Katz, Glass Futures Ltd: rk@glass-futures.orgor Maria Chanmugam, Clevercoms Ltd: maria@clevercoms.com