German Minister to Andøya, Northern Norway

Germany's Minister for Research, Technology and Space Dorothee Bär is visiting Andøya in Northern Norway on 28 April.

The theme of the visit is German-Norwegian cooperation in space activities and polar research.

The German delegation will visit the ALOMAR observatory of the Leibniz Institute for Atmospheric Physics (IAP) and the MAARSY radar facility.

Norway’s Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth (Labour) and Bär met in Tromsø first,o sign the mandate for a new working group tasked with following up bilateral cooperation. Launch capabilities, surveillance, and secure communication will be priority areas.

“Space has become more important to us than many people realize. It concerns everything from secure communication to maintaining situational awareness in our surrounding areas. Through closer cooperation with Germany, we will help strengthen Europe’s ability to utilize and protect critical space capabilities,” said Myrseth.

“Today, Norway and Germany take the next step towards a powerful and soverein space partnership. We drive Europe in the global space race to become a true space power. A multilateral power united by joint values, such as freedom, peace, democracy and justice. Together, we take action and responsibility for Europe’s sovereignty in space,“ said Dorothee Bär (Christian Social Union).

The new working group will, among other things, explore cooperation on satellite launches, space-based surveillance, and secure communication.

Space plays an increasingly important role in our daily lives. Satellites are used for communication, surveillance, and navigation, among other purposes. They are also vital for emergency preparedness and security, for example through the EU programme Secure Connectivity, which Norway recently joined.