Digital change is transforming the economy and society, affecting almost every area of life. Digitalisation is based on a significant increase in data availability, storage and computing capacity, and the global networking of IT systems. These developments make it possible to extract knowledge from the exponentially increasing amounts of data in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner. This results in many new research approaches and business models. On the one hand, this presents great opportunities, but on the other it increases competitiveness in a globalised world. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is addressing this challenge and developing tools for aeronautics, space, energy, transport and security that will enable Germany to play an active role in shaping the digital future.

With its new cross-sectoral area of digitalisation, DLR is looking to combine its research activities and expertise to advance its work in this field. DLR’s digitalisation research team plans and manages research and development activities related to digitalisation in cooperation with partners from research, industry and government. This area comprises activities in aeronautics, space, energy, transport and security research in terms of digitalisation-relevant activities. The focus is on multi- and interdisciplinary projects that link DLR’s various fields of research. In the field of digitalisation, DLR is researching four main topics:

With its neutral and scientifically based information expertise, DLR is an important point of contact for government and society regarding digitalisation issues. DLR’s research is also making an important contribution to Germany as a location for industry and in shaping standards for the digital age.