REVIEW

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.