THE Aerospace LÄND: University of Stuttgart at the center of strategic aerospace developments

Baden-Württemberg is a hub of aerospace innovation. And at the heart of this, the University of Stuttgart. It is central to the scientific part of the state strategy THE Aerospace LÄND, which was adopted on June 27, 2023. Prof. Peter Middendorf, Head of the Institute of Aircraft Design and Vice Rector for Knowledge and Technology Transfer at the University of Stuttgart, is the scientific coordinator of the aerospace strategy.

With this strategy, Baden-Württemberg is pursuing the goal of making aerospace sustainable, digital, and collaborative by 2050. Specifically, this means networking partners from industry and research and driving forward the research and development of new technologies to reduce CO₂ in aviation, for example. The project will focus on strengthening and expanding skills, as well as encouraging and supporting new collaborations. The state is investing 42 million euros in this.

"It is a great sign that the state is supporting innovation in the aerospace industry and thus also our excellent research in this important research area at the University of Stuttgart," says Prof. Peter Middendorf. "The funds will be used to advance our research on cutting-edge technologies and invested in providing an excellent education for the next generation of engineers."

Anyone who wants to get involved in solving the issues of the future needs not only sustainable drive technologies, but also bright minds working to get these ideas off the ground. At the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, the University of Stuttgart combines research and the promotion of young talent: Tomorrow’s experts can enjoy a first-class education, delivered by renowned experts.

The University of Stuttgart achieved its most recent milestone with the cooperative project "SynTrac" (Synergies of Highly Integrated Transport Aircraft). In this transregional collaborative research center, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), researchers are optimizing aircraft components so that aircraft require less energy - and do so with increased performance and efficiency. 

On July 6, 2023, Premier Winfried Kretschmann and ministers will officially introduce the aerospace strategy. "We are delighted that the launch event will be held at the University of Stuttgart," emphasizes Middendorf. In the ARENA2036 on Campus Vaihingen, representatives from industry, science and politics will discuss what digital and sustainable aerospace might look like. ESA astronaut Dr. Alexander Gerst will be among those interviewed by Stuttgart professor Sabine Klinkner. From 9 a.m. the launch event will be  broadcast live online. Exclusively for students of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, there will be a live broadcast in front of the ARENA2036 building. Please consider that the discussions on stage one will be livestreamed.

You can check out the program in the German news release.