The Space of Opportunity

Space-based technology is a cornerstone of modern emergency preparedness. When natural disasters, extreme weather or failures in ground-based infrastructure strike, satellites ensure communication, surveillance, navigation and situational awareness. From early warning of storms and floods, to positioning for rescue operations and mapping of damage — space is part of the Norwegian and European critical infrastructure many take for granted today.

Space is also an area with enormous growth potential. The collaboration between Norwegian and German space industry can create new services in communication, climate and environmental monitoring, autonomous systems, AI-driven analysis etc that will provide jobs and development of high-tech industry. Norway has unique advantages in the Arctic, and expertise in the maritime sector, energy and data analysis, Germany has industrial capacity and technological expertise - together we can develop new services.

At the same time, we are facing competence challenges. The need for technologists, engineers and aerospace skills is increasing rapidly, while interest in science is falling and PISA results show a negative trend. If we are to build total preparedness for the future, and exploit the space of opportunity, we must ensure that young people choose the education that provides the knowledge we need — both to operate critical infrastructure and to create new solutions.

So how do we build expertise and partnerships that enable us to take advantage of these opportunities? How do we ensure national and European control over critical services? And how can collaboration between nations, business, academia and authorities create a new generation of experts who can both strengthen Norwegian and European preparedness and drive innovation?

This program item will shed light on a topical topic through a panel debate broadly composed of leaders and representatives from the Norwegian and German space industry, authorities and academia. The panel discussion will provide insight into how Norwegian-German cooperation strengthens Europe's technological resilience and what strategic choices and long-term measures must be taken to ensure expertise and shared sovereignty, as well as how to exploit the opportunities space offers. The goal is to give the public a comprehensive picture of how partnerships and technology from space contribute to important societal functions – and how to ensure competence for the future.