29–30 September at the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus (NEB) event for regions and cities in Brussels, the annual awards were presented in a formal ceremony. This year, Lithuania was among the 22 laureates: Viltė Adomavičiūtė, the only representative of our country – an artist and researcher – received the top award in the “Strand A” category.
Her project, Hempforma, was recognised for its contribution to building a circular industrial ecosystem and promoting circular thinking. Along with this prestigious recognition, the Lithuanian laureate was also awarded a cash prize of EUR 30,000.
Innovative solution receives award
The Hempforma project aims to revive Lithuania’s industrial hemp heritage and production traditions. This research-based initiative proposes developing sustainable biocomposite acoustic panels made from locally grown industrial hemp. These materials are designed to improve interior acoustics, while also serving as zero-waste and CO₂-reducing alternatives to conventional construction and interior finishing materials.
“This innovation not only reduces deforestation, but also strengthens the local agricultural sector and integrates the principles of sustainable design, neuroinclusion, and sensory comfort,” says the project’s author, Viltė Adomavičiūtė, who works between the Vilnius Academy of Arts and the Iceland University of the Arts.
Personal appreciation and hemp traditions
According to Adomavičiūtė, the award is not only a personal recognition, but also a sign that long-term efforts are paying off:
“More than a decade ago, I was among the first in Lithuania to start growing industrial hemp, and I founded the CannaMama platform. From the very beginning, I sought to demonstrate that hemp is a versatile plant that can be used from flower to stem, guided by the zero-waste principle. “This recognition marks a new stage for me: it shows that a hemp tradition that has existed for millennia is being revived and is once again becoming part of the future.”
NEB – a new way of thinking for Europe
The New European Bauhaus is a European Commission initiative launched in 2020. It aims to connect the European Green Deal with culture, creativity, architecture, and the quality of the built environment.
The initiative supports projects that embody three core values: sustainability, togetherness, and aesthetics. As V. Adomavičiūtė emphasises:
“NEB feels to me like a new way of thinking – it brings science, art, communities, and innovation into a single vision where sustainability and aesthetics are inseparable. This is not only a personal achievement for me, but also a sign that a new evolution of hemp is beginning worldwide.”
Lithuania – among Europe’s innovation leaders.
This achievement demonstrates that Lithuania is gaining visibility not only in science and the arts, but also in sustainability innovation. The Hempforma project shows how traditions can be revived through modern innovation, and how Lithuanian ideas can become an inspiration for Europe as a whole.
