REVIEW

Annual Networking Event 2025

The 2025 annual network meeting of the Lower Saxony Aviation Initiative took place on December 15 at the Varel Technology Center and once again provided a high-level platform for exchange between representatives from industry, science, politics, and administration. This year's event focused on the key topic of “smart manufacturing,” which highlighted the importance of intelligent, networked, and data-based production processes for the future of the aerospace industry.

In the morning, participants gained detailed insights into modern manufacturing and automation processes during exclusive company tours at Broetje-Automation in Rastede and Airbus Aerostructures in Varel. The tours highlighted the innovation-driven development of Lower Saxony as an aviation location and underscored its central role in national and international value chains.

In the subsequent technical program, leading companies and research institutions presented smart production technologies and application scenarios from the fields of artificial intelligence, digital twins, additive manufacturing, and adaptive production systems. The presentations made it clear how digital and networked technologies are already making a significant contribution to increasing efficiency, quality assurance, and resilience in industrial processes, and what potential this offers for the entire location.

A particular highlight was the panel discussion, which included Matthias Wunderling-Weilbier, State Secretary in the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Transport, and Construction. He emphasized the importance of technological sovereignty, robust supply chains, and strategic location development, stressing that smart manufacturing is a key factor for the long-term competitiveness of Lower Saxony's aerospace industry. The annual network meeting was complemented by an accompanying exhibition of innovative products and services as well as numerous opportunities for professional exchange.

We would like to thank all participants, speakers, and partners for their contribution to the success of the event and look forward to continued close cooperation and joint development of the topics initiated in Varel in the coming months. The event highlighted its role as an established forum for networking key players in the industry and as an important catalyst for the further development of Lower Saxony as an aerospace location.

We would like to express our special thanks to the Varel Technology Center for its organization and hospitality, as well as to the Manufacturing Innovations Network e.V., Airbus Varel, and Broetje-Automation GmbH for their support in staging the event.

Annual Networking Event 2024

Interesting company tours, exciting specialist presentations, an accompanying exhibition featuring innovative solutions, a high-profile panel discussion, and the opportunity to exchange ideas with key decision-makers and influencers in the industry—these were the highlights of the 2024 annual network meeting.

On December 16, our year-end event was hosted by the Airbus European Repair Station in Stuhr. The event kicked off with tours of the Airbus plant in Bremen and the Airbus European Repair Station. In the subsequent lecture section of the event, which was held under the motto “Repair instead of replace,” the focus was on new approaches and technologies for optimizing products and processes in the field of maintenance and repair.

The annual network meeting also included an accompanying exhibition, where the approximately 180 participants were able to experience innovative products and services from numerous exhibitors up close. Another highlight was the panel discussion with Lower Saxony's Minister for Economic Affairs, Olaf Lies, and representatives from industry, which addressed the challenges in the MRO sector and the course that needs to be set for a successful future in civil aviation and the prospects in military aviation.

Annual Networking Event 2023

In 2023, the annual network meeting went on tour again, stopping at the research and production site in Stade on December 4. Established as the most important networking platform for the aerospace industry in Lower Saxony, the year-end event has become a fixture in the calendars of key decision-makers and multipliers in the industry. This year's edition focused on the Stade lightweight construction ecosystem with exciting technical presentations and keynotes from Airbus, DLR, IFAM, HPCFK, Composites United, guided tours of the Airbus plant in Stade or the entire cluster, and a large accompanying exhibition offering a unique supporting program.

After his welcoming address, Lower Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Olaf Lies discussed the future of Lower Saxony as an aerospace location with Dr. Andre Walter (Airbus), Prof. Dr. Bernd Mayer (Fraunhofer IFAM), and Alexander Reinhardt (BDLI). The panel focused on the topics of decarbonization, digitalization, transformation, and securing skilled workers. All participants agreed that much more should be done in the areas of career orientation and enthusiasm among young professionals in aerospace and STEM. We were therefore delighted to welcome a group of students from the Technical University of Braunschweig to our annual network meeting.

The annual network meeting once again clearly demonstrated that it is essential for the entire industry community to maintain and expand Lower Saxony's position as one of Europe's leading aerospace locations. We should gain and secure significant value-added shares and valuable, technology-oriented jobs for/in Lower Saxony and strengthen resilient supply chains.

A special highlight of this year's annual network meeting was the award ceremony for our video competition “Aviation made in Lower Saxony.” Every day, numerous ideas, products, and solutions for the planning, construction, and operation of aircraft are developed in Lower Saxony, making flying and space travel today and tomorrow more sustainable, safer, more efficient, and more comfortable. Minister of Economic Affairs Olaf Lies, together with sponsors Airbus, TRANS4LOG LAB, and Lookfamed, congratulated the winners in the categories “Digitalization/Transformation,” “Green Flying,” and “Young Talent/Skilled Workers”: IPH - Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover gGmbH, Rehkitzrettung Hannover e. V., and Aviators Farm. Congratulations!

Annual Networking Event 2022

In 2022, our annual networking event went on tour for the first time and made a stop at the innovation location Braunschweig on December 15. Once again, numerous representatives from business, science, politics and administration took the opportunity of the state initiative's year-end event, which is established as a networking platform for the aerospace industry in Niedersachsen, to network further, discuss current topics and exchange ideas on joint approaches. 

In order to become more acquainted with Braunschweig as a location for innovation, the program included upstream visits to companies and institutes such as the DLR Institute for Flight Systems Technology, INVENT GmbH, Leichtwerk AG, the Aeronautics Research Centre Niedersachsen (NFL) and Simtec Systems GmbH.

Afterwards, the team of the state initiative welcomed the participants to the specialist program in the Lilienthalhaus. After the technical presentations on innovations at the Braunschweig location, the first panel discussion "The contribution of aerospace to environmental and climate protection" took place with Götz Anspach von Broecker (Airbus Defence and Space), Dr. Thomas Lege (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources), Gregor Müller (M&D Flugzeugbau GmbH & Co. KG) and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Friedrichs (Cluster of Excellence SE²A). In addition to the technical approaches for emission-free aviation, the focus was also on applications and services that are already possible or could be implemented in the future through innovations in the aerospace industry. 

After his welcoming address, Olaf Lies, Niedersachsen's Minister of Economics, exchanged views with Dr. Olaf Heintze (German Aerospace Center e. V. ) and Volker Thum (German Aerospace Industries Association) on the importance of Niedersachsen as an aerospace location, the greatest challenges facing the industry at present and in the future and opportunities arising for the location and its players. Approaches to solutions and proposals for specific actions were also discussed. Niedersachsen's Minister of Economics, Olaf Lies, made the following statement at the event: " Niedersachsen can only secure its position as an attractive and leading aviation location in Europe if research and science cooperate with the industry. We will continue to promote innovative and digital research and production ideas in order to stabilize the core business and open up new markets. "Green Flying" is an important component in this. We must enable climate-neutral aviation, because this industry in particular can make a major contribution to helping us achieve our climate protection goals." * 

* Translation of the author

Annual Networking Event 2020 

In 2020, our annual networking event took place virtually for the first time on December 15. Despite the virtual format, networking was not neglected. The approximately 120 participants had the opportunity to make new contacts or deepen existing ones at 20 virtual coffee tables and to exchange ideas on current topics. 

After a brief welcome to the participants by Stefan Schröder (Niedersachsen Aviation), five companies presented their innovative solutions and ideas. Norbert Steinkemper (Broetje-Automation GmbH) started the Elevator Pitches with "Portfolio rethought! How the virus is driving us out of the niche". Götz Otto Anspach von Broecker (Airbus Defence and Space) reported on the possibility of a "flexible "Do-Your-Own" small satellite system for everyone." He was followed by David Burzynski (Coldsense Technologies) with "Don't let ice stop your business!" and Jarno Puff (LikeABird Ltd.) with his elevator pitch "Video and Telemetry Data Link for Aircraft Testing and Commercial Use." Martin Pietrek (Leichtwerk Research GmbH) closed with "Drones beyond the mass market".  

After the elevator pitches, participants were able to discuss the topics of Green (hydrogen), Lean (supply chain excellence) and Smart (new flight concepts) in parallel breakout sessions. 

Afterwards, Dr. Bernd Althusmann, Niedersachsen's Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor, Transport and Digitalization, presented key points for the "Niedersachsen 2030 Aerospace Strategy" and his vision of Niedersachsen as an aerospace location. In addition, he addressed the fields of action and measures for achieving the strategy goals in a dialog with Stefan Schröder.

Annual Networking Event 2019 

The annual networking event of the state initiative Niedersachsen Aviation took place on November 26, 2019, in the business area of the HDI Arena in Hanover. Once again, it served as a networking platform for the aerospace network of Niedersachsen and was used by the participating representatives from business, science, politics and administration to further network, discuss current topics and exchange ideas on common approaches.

The technical program was themed Aviation 4.0. In this context Franz Josef Kirschfink (Hamburg Aviation) reported on the challenges of the aviation supply industry, Lutz Neugebauer (Broetje-Automation GmbH) on the use of cobots in production, Norman Maggi (GOM GmbH) on quality assurance for production, maintenance and repair processes, Martin Dehn (AIRBUS) on new mobility concepts and Marc Brestrich (Deharde GmbH) on an innovative process for the production of aircraft planking. 

After a review and outlook on the work of the state initiative by Stefan Schröder, a panel discussion followed with Dr. Bernd Althusmann, Niedersachsen's Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor, Transport and Digitalization, on Niedersachsen as an aerospace location. The Minister announced that a strategy for Niedersachsen as an aerospace location is to be developed and that the first milestone for this will be the 1st Niedersachsen Dialogue of the Aerospace Industry on December 6, 2019. 

Parallel to the presentations, there was once again a large accompanying exhibition. This year, more than 20 exhibitors presented themselves and were glad about the visit of the Minister of Economics, who informed himself about the products, services and research results of the companies, research institutions, networks and locations during his tour.

Annual Networking Event 2018 
On December 18, 2018, the annual networking event of Niedersachsen Aviation took place in the business area of the HDI Arena in Hanover. Once again, it was a networking platform for the Aviation and Aerospace Network of Niedersachsen and was used by approximately 120 participants to continue networking, exchange ideas on common approaches and discuss the future of Niedersachsen as an aviation and aerospace location. 

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the state initiative, project director Stefan Schröder opened the event with a review of what had been achieved together with the partners at regional, national and international level and against the background of the results of an innovation survey conducted by the network, looked at the challenges facing the location and the companies in the future. 

After a keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Jens Friedrichs (TU Braunschweig), who reported on the cluster of excellence "SE²A-Sustainable and Energy Efficient Aviation", in the framework of which research institutions in Niedersachsen want to conduct interdisciplinary research into technologies for a sustainable and environmentally compatible development of aviation, a panel discussion followed on the future of the research location and aerospace research in Niedersachsen. In addition to Prof. Dr. Jens Friedrichs, Prof. Dr. Joachim Block (DLR), Prof. Dr. Berend Denkena (University of Hannover) and Dr. Gunnar Merz (CFK Valley e.V.) took part. On the second panel, Marc Brestrich (Deharde GmbH), Gunnar Groß (Airbus Operations GmbH), Dr. Raoul Hille (Flughafen Hannover-Langenhagen GmbH) and Bernd Schröder (Broetje-Automation GmbH) discussed the future of Niedersachsen as a production and aviation location. 

Afterwards, Stefan Muhle, State Secretary at the Niedersachsen Ministry of Economics, Labor, Transport and Digitalization, spoke about the state government's aerospace (policy) and announced that the state will support the industry with an aviation research program with 3 million Euros in 2019 and that the state initiative Niedersachsen Aviation will be continued. 

Parallel to the presentations there was once again a large accompanying exhibition. This year, about 25 exhibitors presented themselves and were pleased about the visit of the State Secretary, who informed himself about the products, services and research results of the companies, research institutions, networks and locations during his tour.