Preparing the conditions for the revival of the hemp textile industry in the V4 countries and beyond

The project aims to hemp textile industry recovery in the V4 region and beyond. It brings together recognised partners from V4 countries and Germany with a vast expertise.
The main project idea is to map what is left of the bast fibre textile industry in our countries, define the needs and opportunities for its sustainable revival, design a way to reach the most important markets and verify the innovative technology of hemp textile fibre production.

Main outcome of the project is a digital database Hemp Materials Library  that integrates capacities able to process hemp stalk, fibres, yarns or textile in the region.

This covers:

1. factories, machinery and technology, processing capacities of materials and end products;
2. expert technologists;
3. affiliated institutions dedicated to the textile industry;
4. farms that are able to deliver raw materials suitable for textile processing;
5. natural fibres and textile oriented universities.

Next to Czechemp, the leading partner, partners of the project are:

• Slovak Hemp Association (Slovenská konopárska asociácia, HEMPSKA, SK)
• Textile center (Textilne centrum o.z, SK)
• Kender-Cucc kft (HU)
• NATUVALIS GmbH (DE)
• Czech Technology Platform for Textile (Česká technologická platforma pro textil, z.s., ČTPT, CZ)
• Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants National Research Institute (Instytut Włókien Naturalnych i Roślin Zielarskich Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, IWNIRZ, PL)

The project includes study visits for partners to Czechia, Poland, and Hungary, a Survey of Needs among textile industry representatives, and a Roadmap for the further development of the textile use of hemp in the region.

Project Coordinator: Michal Ruman, email: projekty@czechemp.cz

The project was supported by a grant of €47,150 and will be completed in June 2026.

The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.