COOPERANTS Takes Off: Premiere at Space Tech Expo Europe as a Driver of Digital Transformation in Aerospace
22.11.2024
Connecting the Curious: Stage for Startups, Students and Young Professionals to Meet
25.11.2024
Space Tech Expo Europe 2024 in Bremen has once again set an impressive tone in the aeronautics and space industry and highlighted Bremen’s position as the ‘City of Aerospace’. From 19 to 21 November, the Bremen Exhibition Centre was the meeting place for over 8,000 participants and more than 700 exhibitors, who presented and discussed the latest innovations, collaborations and challenges in the space industry. Space Tech Expo Europe, which has developed into Europe’s largest B2B space event and an annual industry meeting place, provided the ideal setting to promote dialogue and boost networking between industry leaders, startups and research institutions.
The programme began on 18 November with an exclusive VIP dinner hosted by the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen at Bremen City Hall, where prominent guests and representatives from the space industry came together and were welcomed by the Mayor and President of the Bremen Senate, Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte.
Kristina Vogt, Minister of Economic Affairs, Ports and Transformation, opened the trade fair the following day, 19 November. Vogt emphasised the central role of Europe and Bremen in the space sector. She highlighted the importance of innovative technologies for the future of the industry.
Kristina Vogt opens Space Tech Expo 2024 (© AVIASPACE/ Justin von Glahn)
The German federal state of Bremen was represented at Space Tech Expo Europe with three exhibition stands: the Bremen stand, the COOPERANTS stand and the ESA SME & Startups stand, which focused on SMEs and startups.
The ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) Northern Germany was also a co-exhibitor at the ESA stand, where innovative startups were given the opportunity to present their ideas and technologies in daily pitch sessions. The sessions, which attracted numerous investors and partners, impressively demonstrated how forward-thinking the startup scene in the ‘City of Aerospace’ is.
The COOPERANTS core consortium, consisting of Airbus DS, DLR RY, DFKI, Fraunhofer IWU, FZI, itemis, neusta aerospace, OHB, RADIUSMEDIA, ScopeSET, Valispace and ZARM Technik, had its own stand in Hall 6 this year. The consortium, with a growing presence in the space industry, is keen to develop partnerships in this area. The consortium received political visitors on site, including Minister of State Sarah Ryglewski and Bremen’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Ports and Transformation, Kristina Vogt.
Startup-Pitches from ESA BIC Northern Germany (© AVIASPACE/ Justin von Glahn)
Space travel is based on international cooperation. Under the heading ‘Connecting Space Regions’, international space organisations from Poland and Portugal as well as Canada, Ireland and South Africa presented themselves with pitches and panel discussions on the 19 November. The following day, the CCI Paris and Occitanie regions were in focus. These sessions, which took place in the CCB Lounge, facilitated a close exchange between the international partners and laid the foundations for future projects and collaborations.
Connecting Space Regions Networking-Session Poland and Portugal (© AVIASPACE/ Justin von Glahn)
A special event was the honouring of the 500th startup to be included in the ESA BICs in Germany: The startup, Reimagine Spaces, which is led by the founding team Carolin Johannsen and Valentina Schmidt, presented itself as a representative. The team will now be incubated in the ESA BIC Northern Germany.
Representing 500th German ESA BIC Startup to be honoured: Carolin Johannsen/ Reimagine Space (© AVIASPACE/ Justin von Glahn)
On the same day, the ‘Women in Aerospace Europe’ panel, organised by the European Centre for Space Economy and Commerce (ECSECO), provided a platform for dialogue on the important role of women in the space industry.
Other highlights included the panel discussion, ‘Space Law’ on 19 November, which highlighted the legal challenges for a common European space law. A subsequent Space Law Workshop on 20 November offered an in-depth examination of legal issues in the space industry.
The traditional ‘City of Space’ stand party on the evening of 19 November, which took place in Hall 5 and was a highlight for the international participants, provided an opportunity to network.
Atmosphere at the Bremen Booth Party (© AVIASPACE/ Justin von Glahn)
The close cooperation and action agenda between Bremen and the Zuid-Holland region was celebrated at the joint ‘Connecting Space Regions’ networking dinner on 19 November at the Bremen Bremerhaven Chamber of Commerce in Haus Schütting. Other space regions were also present under the umbrella of ‘Connecting Space Regions’.
Networking-Dinner at Haus Schütting Welcome: Eduard Dubbers-Albrecht, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Meindert Stolk, Provinz Zuid Holland, State Councillor Maike Freese (© AVIASPACE/ Justin von Glahn)
Inspiring projects and innovations such as the European ‘SPREAD2INNO’ project, which is dedicated to promoting European innovations, were also presented as part of the Expo. The project presentation offered exciting insights into the results and successes achieved as well as the next steps.
Another highlight was the ‘Digital Twin of the Moon’ session on 20 November which, together with partners from the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland, presented new approaches to exploring the Moon and delighted the audience in the City of Aerospace.
Digital Twin of the Moon (© AVIASPACE/ Julian Hofhans)
On 20 November, the presentation of the prestigious ZARM Sponsorship Award honoured outstanding scientific work by young talents and highlighted Bremen’s commitment to supporting young scientists.
Winner of the ZARM Sponsorship Award 2024 / (© AVIASPACE/ Justin von Glahn)
On the afternoon of 20 November 2024, a UK Pitch Session with whisky tasting was also held, organised by Scottish Development International (SDI) and the Minister for Economic Affairs, Ports and Transformation in collaboration with other British institutions such as the UK Space Agency. The aim of the event, which was also attended by the British Ambassador to Germany, Andrew Mitchell, was to bring together German, British and international companies and institutions to explore opportunities for cooperation.
UK Pitching and Whisky Tasting Networking-Event (© AVIASPACE/ Justin von Glahn)
Another networking highlight was the ‘Connecting the Curious’ event on the evening of 20 November at Schaulust, where students, startups and young professionals from the space industry came together to network and exchange ideas.
Pitching at Connecting the Curious (© AVIASPACE/ Justin von Glahn)
At the end of the trade fair, the pitching session of the ‘Cooperants Service Competition 2024’ took place on 21 November on the SMALLSATS CONFERENCE stage in Hall 4, where the finalists of the competition presented their innovative services for the aeronautics and space industry. After an exciting session, Allar Allas from Inspirators! came out on top with his FutuDraw service, winning first place.
Pitching-Session at the Cooperants Service Competition (© AVIASPACE/ Justin von Glahn)
The varied supporting programme of Space Tech Expo Europe 2024 was enriched by events such as the Start-up Week Bremen and Bremerhaven from 15 to 24 November, the Gaia-X Domain Aerospace Workshop and the Fraunhofer-EEN Space Community Get-Together on 18 November, underlining the importance of Bremen and Bremerhaven as centres of European aeronautics and space industries.
For more information on Space Tech Expo Europe and to register for next year’s event, please visit the official website: Space Tech Expo Europe.
We look forward to welcoming the space world to the Hanseatic City of Bremen next year for Space Tech EXPO Europe from 18-20 November 2025.
About Bremen Bremerhaven – CITY OF AEROSPACE
Aeronautics and space sectors are the central key industries in the German federal state of Bremen as part of the innovation strategy of the German federal state of Bremen 2030 and markets themselves under the claim Bremen Bremerhaven – CITY OF AEROSPACE. Four organizations in the German federal state of Bremen work together to implement the operational goals of the innovation strategy Bremen 2030.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ports, and Transformation creates the financial and organizational framework for the design and implementation of the aeronautics and space industries strategy.
AVIASPACE BREMEN e.V. oversees the network and participation in innovation projects necessary for the implementation of the operational goals of the innovation strategy.
The Bremer Aufbau-Bank GmbH (BAB) as state development bank, handles the German federal state of Bremen aeronautics and space research program. BAB Starthaus supports startups and young companies and integrates them into the startup ecosystem of the state of Bremen.
WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH supports the activities of the Bremen Bremerhaven CITY OF AEROSPACE through trade fair and event organization. The claim BremenInvest fosters the internationalization of the industry. The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) supports companies with questions relating to innovation and internationalization.
