Digital Hemp: the Oil of the 21st Century

digital hemp

The re:publica conference "Digital Hemp" is all about the potential of the hemp plant. Products made of hemp and cannabis are currently experiencing a renaissance and are gaining more and more momentum. But things are also shifting internationally, and countries such as Canada, Mexico and Luxembourg are regulating private use and creating legal markets. 

Experts estimate the European market to have a market strength of 123 billion Euros by 2028. Germany in particular, the largest market in Europe, is becoming more and more active and offers entrepreneurs a wide range of market opportunities even in the absence of legalisation. Digital networking, state-of-the-art information technologies and the Internet are bringing a new dynamic to the topic. The content of the conference will be co-organised by MJ_UNIVERSE.

Digital Hemp - re:publica symposium on 8 May 2019 at Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin

The symposia „Digital Hemp“ is part of the re:publica 19 program and is open for all re:publica ticket holders. Seats at the Deutsches Technik Museum are limited. First come, first serve.

The re:publica symposium "Digital Hemp" is for all people interested in the topics 1) movement through digital (brand) communication, 2) sustainability and sustainable environmental technologies and 3) interesting emerging markets with a multitude of high-tech innovations that can also be applied to other areas. The symposium is aimed specifically at decision-makers from business and politics who are interested in the topic, want to make contacts and want to actively participate in current events. It is aimed at entrepreneurs, opinion leaders and freelancers from the hemp industry, but also specifically addresses people outside of the industry through a diverse programme.

The programme illuminates the different aspects of Digital Hemp in a variety of formats. Renowned and selected speakers from business, media, politics and science address the following topics: 

1. Marketing, media and movement:

Social media and the Internet are sources of inspiration, information but also of false information. Companies and media in this emerging industry are excluded or severely restricted from conventional solutions by Community Standards or Terms & Conditions, even regarding health education or the sale of legal products. On the other hand, the Internet gives people, brands and (digital) media the opportunity to network and establish a community IRL (in-real life). Brands and media understand that they can positively influence their perception through a stigma-free communication. This opens up new markets and appeals to previously unknown target groups. Internationally, one sees a multitude of innovative products and services that are available in legal markets such as Canada or in the USA in states like California or Colorado.

2. Sustainable development: Hemp as a renewable raw material

Hemp is a raw material used in a wide range of products from food, clothing and textiles to food supplements, cosmetics, biofuels and biodegradable cellulose plastics. The hemp industry covers far more areas than many people can even imagine. It is filled with technical innovations along the value chain and offers endless possibilities for the production of a wide variety of products. Discussions on this topic revolve around human rights and sustainability goals that are of significance to all people living in this world. The multifaceted men and women who dedicate themselves to the plant breathe life into the industry. Hemp is experiencing a worldwide boom and the market is opening up for global as well as small regional companies.

3. Emerging markets, innovations and politics

Topics such as Blockchain, SaaS solutions or IoT technologies play an important role in the hemp industry as well. In America and Canada, entrepreneurs dare to break new ground and use the developments in technology for standardization and transparency within the production and supply chains, among other things. But what about Germany and Europe? It seems that products in Germany tend to be limited to medical topics, and even international companies can only scale their business models to a limited extent. But is that really the case? Regardless of this, there is great market potential and solutions must be worked out in cooperation with the government and politicians in order to create a well-regulated German market in which SMEs also stand a chance. Due to unclear regulations and legislation, a lot still needs to happen in order to give companies clear guidelines and shape the market together.