GROWNLab in Innsbruck

What for Marcel Hirscher? When hemp becomes skis

Science Minister Cornelia Hagele came to visit.(Bild: Land Tirol)

The "GROWNLab" in the Tyrolean capital has been working on the use of renewable raw materials for a year now. Among other things, ski poles and skis made from hemp have been developed. 

The "GROWNLab" was founded a year ago at the Institute of Engineering Design and Materials Science (MTI) at the University of Innsbruck. The state provided start-up funding of 245,000 euros until 2025. This has since developed into a research focus in its own right.

This revolves around the area of rapidly renewable raw materials such as hemp, flax and recycled wool.

The harvesting of crops such as wheat, barley, hemp and flax produces a considerable amount of by-product, namely straw, which is not used optimally in many regions.

Valentine Troi (MTI)

"A step towards a sustainable future"
For example, ski poles and skis made from hemp, furniture made from Kombucha cellulose and various geotextiles made from raw wool have been developed. The "GROWNLab" was recently visited by Cornelia Hagele (ÖVP), a member of the provincial council for science, who emphasized that "such projects not only promote regional value creation, but are also an important step towards a sustainable future for our country".

Lots of potential available
MTI project manager Valentine Troi adds: "When crops such as wheat, barley, hemp and flax are harvested, a considerable amount of by-product is produced, namely straw, which is not used optimally in many regions. Straw in particular represents a potential that could generate higher added value through industrial application."