The Innovation Tribe

In The Innovation Tribe, Hannes Erler—globally recognized innovation thought leader and former pioneer at Swarovski—offers a bold and deeply human answer: the future must be co-created by people who unite vision, courage, and shared values.
Drawing on more than four decades at the intersection of engineering, leadership, and cultural transformation, Erler distills his journey into a powerful framework for purposeful innovation. From Swarovski boardrooms to global innovation networks, from collaborations with thinkers like Clayton Christensen and Bob Cooper to encounters with indigenous wisdom traditions, his stories reveal one central truth: innovation is never just about tools or technology—it is about people, meaning, and belonging.
At the heart of the book lies the concept of the Homo Innovaticus: a new archetype for our times. This is the changemaker who navigates complexity with clarity, blends intuition with strategy, and anchors every breakthrough in trust, dignity, and connection.
Rich with personal stories, cultural insights, and practical frameworks, The Innovation Tribe shows how innovation can be both globally competitive and profoundly humane. It is not just a book for executives or experts, but a call to action for anyone who believes innovation should serve more than markets—it should serve humanity.
Whether you are a leader driving transformation, a professional seeking purpose, or a citizen wondering how to contribute to a world worth living in, this book is your invitation to join the Innovation Tribe.

• Based on the experience of a 40-year career working in innovation management positions in leading companies
• Offers practical, actionable tools and methods
• Storytelling and real-world examples make the content relatable and engaging

Hannes Erler 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 aims 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 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