Liberec Region

Liberec's economic history reads as a case study in industrial extinction and niche replacement. The region once earned the title 'Manchester of Bohemia' for textile production that made the Liebieg family enormously wealthy in the 19th century. That industry collapsed completely with structural changes—not gradual decline but wholesale extinction of the regional economic species. What emerged in its place demonstrates adaptive radiation: the same workforce precision that produced textiles now manufactures automotive components. Technical University of Liberec pivoted from textile engineering to nanotechnology, housing the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation. The 'Crystal Valley' preserves artisanal glass production as a living heritage industry. The Jizera Mountains and Ještěd create terrain that limits agricultural output but enables winter tourism. Liberec shows that regional economies can survive species-level industrial extinction if they retain transferable capabilities—skills, infrastructure, and educational institutions that can support new economic phenotypes.