About ICG

The aim of ICG is to promote and stimulate understanding and cooperation between glass experts in the fields of science and technology as well as art, history and education.

The ICG achieves these objectives by organising Technical Committee work (e.g. laboratory round robins, comparative studies, topical meetings), compiling information on glass (e.g. publishing scientific and technical papers, reports and books) and by sharing and disseminating knowledge on glass in advanced educational courses and workshops. A further major role is to organise international meetings. Every three years the ICG holds an International Congress on Glass while Annual Conferences take place during the intervening period often in conjunction with national society meetings.

The ICG is financed by subscriptions from Member Organisations set in proportion to the annual glass output of the respective countries. Additional income arises from Associate Member Organisations, the sale of publications and royalties.

ICG also gains considerably from contributions ’in kind’ from individual members of the administrative team and technical committees who give freely of their time and effort. 

The International Commission on Glass has operated successfully for 8 decades.  During this period it has welcomed many new member organisations. Numerous well-known glass scientists and technologists are involved in its organisation and it is run by a committed and experienced administration. Participating organisations in the ICG enjoy hands on experience and achievement through involvement in TC activities. Major benefits are gained from direct association between international glass experts in the fields of science and technology, art and education and through liaisons with related fields of technology such as optics, photonics, electronics, nanotechnology, coating technology, biotechnology, polymers and composites. An example of this interaction has been the recent development of research road maps for several key areas of interest. 

The ICG is determined to continue its high standards of quality and performance.

For the future, it wishes to encourage:

• More national institutions to join as members,
• More individuals to serve on ICG committees,
• Proposals for the establishment of new technical committees on pertinent topics,
• Continue its work on road mapping to help focus future research activities.