Bavaria aims to become a European hub for small satellites

The Freie Wähler political group in Bavaria aims to establish the region as Europe’s leading hub for the commercial small satellite industry. According to a draft position paper, the party seeks to strengthen the entire value chain, including research, development, production, integration, and data applications.

To achieve this, the group is calling for the creation of a ‘Bavarian Small Satellite Program’ to fund research and demonstration missions. Key proposals include reducing bureaucratic hurdles for high-tech industries, improving access to private venture capital for startups, and establishing a specialized investment fund for space-related ventures.

The initiative follows the recent launch of nine small satellites developed in Würzburg, which are intended to assist with disaster management, such as flood protection and detecting forest damage.