Upcoming events

What in the film is fiction – what is reality? We will address this question in the second event in our discussion series, to which we cordially invite you in cooperation with the Young Society for Security Policy (JGSP), Bonn section. Together, we will engage in conversation based on a film about security policy.

Space travel is experiencing a renaissance – technologically, economically, and geopolitically. It is no longer just about science and prestige, but also about economic success, security-related infrastructure, and strategic sovereignty. Europe faces the challenge of making its mark in a space industry characterized by global competition and maintaining its strategic capacity to act.

Satellites form the backbone of modern societies – whether for communication, navigation, financial transactions, weather observation, or military situation assessments. However, Europe's dependence on a few key technologies – such as launch vehicles or components and parts from third countries – makes the European space infrastructure vulnerable. This session highlights Europe's technological, economic, and geopolitical dependencies in space.

Space has long been a field of action in security policy—as an infrastructure space, reconnaissance platform, and potential area of conflict. The increasing militarization of orbit, anti-satellite systems, dual-use technologies, and strategies for space dominance are fundamentally changing the global security situation. Europe must also face up to this development.

The space industry is undergoing profound structural change. New private-sector players, flexible business models, venture capital, and innovation-driven technologies are changing the playing field—in Europe as well. The so-called “New Space” sector promises not only faster innovation cycles but also broader economic use of space.

Satellites are critical infrastructure from a security, economic, and social perspective—and therefore attractive targets for cyberattacks. Whether from state actors, hacker groups, or faulty software, the threat to satellite-based communication systems is growing steadily. Europe faces the challenge of making its orbital communication channels resilient, encrypted, and independent.

Space-based infrastructure is crucial to modern societies, supporting navigation, communication, weather forecasting, and military functions. As reliance on space grows, so does the potential for strategic control over these technologies, turning space into a new domain for power projection and competition. Countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are investing heavily in space programs, driving economic growth and technological innovation in the Middle East. However, this growing investment creates competition for limited resources and raises security concerns. At the same time, space offers opportunities for international cooperation, fostering regional stability and technological progress. This summer school will explore the evolving dynamics of space as both a competitive and collaborative arena, with a focus on the Middle East and global implications. Participation by invitation only.

Global navigation systems such as GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou are not only used for navigating vehicles and aircraft. They are also essential for precise time stamps in financial systems, energy and communication networks, and security-related applications. Whoever controls these signals controls entire social and economic structures.

Space is not only a place of strategic infrastructure – it is also a unique place where we can learn many things that will help us here on Earth. Exploring our solar system – for example, the Moon, Mars, or Jupiter's moons – provides us with valuable insights into the formation of planets, climate processes, and the conditions under which life can arise.

Is it still weather or already climate? Weather and climate change are global phenomena that we cannot measure without space travel. Satellite-based Earth observation provides indispensable data for climate models, environmental monitoring, weather forecasts, and disaster control. Europe is a leader in this field with programs such as Copernicus, Sentinel, and EUMETSAT—and the pressure to act is growing.

The Moon is once again moving to the center of international spaceflight ambitions – as a scientific testbed, a potential source of raw materials, and a testing environment for future missions to Mars. Europe, too, does not seek merely to take part, but to actively shape this renewed lunar focus: through robotic precursor missions, complex infrastructure concepts, and, in the longer term, its own astronaut presence. This session examines the strategic, technological, and political dimensions of Europe’s lunar ambitions.

Humans in space are not only a symbol of technical mastery – they are also a fascinating subject of medical research. The extreme environment of space profoundly affects the human body: muscle loss, bone density reduction, cardiovascular changes, and altered immune function all challenge science and research. Europe’s medical space research responds with innovative concepts and technologies.

The fascination with space has always inspired human imagination – and it remains a powerful driver of curiosity, discovery, and technological progress. Spaceflight captivates – but it needs people: engineers and technicians, scientists and visionaries. Europe faces the challenge of attracting and retaining young talent in the space sector in the face of demographic change, global competition, and a growing shortage of skilled professionals.