Federal Government Should Fund Space Program, Says Bremen Mayor Bovenschulte
Bremen, Germany, is gearing up for a significant expansion in its aerospace sector, with a focus on space exploration and military transport aircraft programs. This growth is driven by strategic investments, innovative technologies, and international collaborations, as highlighted by Bremen's Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte at the Airconnect conference.
The German space program is set to receive a substantial boost, with an allocation of around 2.3 billion euros in 2025. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) will receive 736.5 million euros alone. A crucial decision on the European Space Agency (ESA) budget for 2026–2028 will be made in Bremen in November 2025, with ESA Director Josef Aschbacher advocating for a 10% annual budget increase and doubling Germany’s contribution to 2 billion euros annually. Even industry representatives and the Bavarian government have proposed a national space program with 1 billion euros.
Germany is a leader in satellite technology, Earth observation (through programs like Copernicus), and navigation systems like Galileo. Bremen-based companies such as OHB play a key role in European and NASA missions, and emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and space manufacturing are seen as future growth areas. Startups in Bremen are developing launch vehicles amid drastically reduced satellite launch costs, further bolstering the city's aerospace sector.
The Airbus A400M, a central component of Europe’s strategic airlift capabilities, also remains important to Bremen's aerospace industry. While specific updates on the Airbus A400M were not directly cited, the broader aerospace focus in Bremen and Germany indicates continued importance for such military and transport aircraft programs.
Bremen remains a central hub for aerospace, with over 140 companies and 20 institutes active in the sector. The city boasts the highest employment density in the aerospace sector in Germany. Bremen is known as the 'City of Space', having been instrumental in international space travel for over 60 years.
Mayor Bovenschulte emphasises the importance of space travel as a driver of technical, social, and economic progress. He believes that space travel is a federal task, and individual states cannot afford their own space programs. He holds Airbus' corporate management accountable for the high losses in the space sector and urges the federal government to continue funding space travel.
Security is a priority for the military transporter Airbus A400M, and the mayor advocates for its maintenance and security in Bremen. The future of the A400M is particularly important, especially in light of the Zeitenwende called for by the Federal Chancellor.
The ESA Ministerial Council Conference is scheduled to take place in Bremen in 2024, further cementing the city's role in international space travel. Bovenschulte has the support of other federal states for his demand to continue funding space travel, ensuring Bremen's aerospace sector continues to thrive and innovate for years to come.
Science and technology are set to convergence more significantly in Bremen, Germany, with the city's aerospace sector focusing on innovation in areas like AI, quantum computing, and space manufacturing. Finance also plays a crucial role, as the city prepares for a substantial boost to its German space program, with a proposed budget increase of 10% annually and a target of doubling Germany’s contribution to the European Space Agency (ESA) budget.
