Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – With a new strategy, the state government wants to expand the position of Baden-Württemberg in the aerospace industry. The actors in the state are to be networked more closely and made more visible, reports the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” and “Stuttgarter Nachrichten” (Tuesday). “With the envisaged strategy for aerospace, we want to play a leading role in technologies for satellite production or in digital applications such as the management of space debris,” Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann told the newspapers.
According to the State Ministry, an event is planned for the first half of next year. Around 4.5 million euros will be made available for the space strategy in the 2023/24 double budget.
“It is important that we secure access to space, defend technology leadership and strengthen European independence in space travel,” said Kretschmann. “The aerospace location of Baden-Württemberg is crucial.” The country is wisely advised to expand its very good starting position.
According to the state ministry, aerospace is one of the most important sectors in Baden-Württemberg with annual sales of 4.8 billion euros. According to the newspapers, in November Kretschmann, together with the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder and the Mayor of Bremen Andreas Bovenschulte, wrote to Chancellor Olaf Scholz in support of Germany contributing around four billion euros to the programs of the European space organization Esa.
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, 40 percent of German space travel employees work in Baden-Württemberg. “This makes the country one of the most important space locations in Germany,” says the ministry’s website.
