Bär: space travel is driving Germany forward
At the Bits & Pretzels start-up conference, Research Minister Dorothee Bär highlighted the importance of space travel as a growth industry.
Munich (dpa/d.de) – In her address at the Munich start-up fair, Federal Minister for Research and Space Dorothee Bär underlined the growing importance of space travel. “Space is increasingly becoming an economic arena. It’s not just useful for us to take part and see how we can profit, it’s a fundamental necessity,” Bär said.
According to economic experts, the global space industry is expected to grow by around ten per cent in the coming years.
The Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) has identified space travel as a strategic research field within Germany’s High-Tech Agenda. More than 9 billion euros has been earmarked for this legislative period alone, supplemented by further investment in initiatives such as the Space Innovation Hub, which supports start-ups and research in the sector.
Bär also highlighted close cooperation with the European Space Agency ESA, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year – Germany is its largest contributor.