In July 2010, the contracts to establish Munich Aerospace were signed. Fifteen years later, the association – supported by the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy – looks back with pride and ahead with strong motivation. In this interview, Dr. Eva Rogowicz-Grimm, Head of Legal & Finance, and Managing Director Dr. Andreas Lermann share their perspectives. Dr. Rogowicz-Grimm has been with Munich Aerospace from the very beginning.
Dr. Rogowicz-Grimm, you’ve been supporting Munich Aerospace as a legal expert from day one. How did you experience the founding of the association 15 years ago? What was the motivation behind it?
As a legal professional, I found it fascinating to help shape the legal and organizational framework from the very beginning and to witness how an idea grew into a vibrant community that now plays a key role in the aerospace sector. The idea to establish Munich Aerospace originally came from Professor Wolfgang A. Herrmann, then President of TUM, and Professor Jan Wörner, then Chairman of the Executive Board at DLR. They recognized that close collaboration among the member institutions – namely TUM, DLR, Bauhaus Luftfahrt, and the University of the Bundeswehr Munich – was essential for remaining internationally competitive and driving technological innovation.
How did you perceive the Bavarian aerospace industry back then? What has changed since?
Back then, the industry was seen as rather conservative and traditional. Today, it is noticeably more dynamic, innovative, and active – especially due to New Space developments, which have brought fresh momentum and new technologies into the market. There’s a genuine sense of a new beginning, with many companies and research institutions exploring new paths. In addition, the war in Ukraine has shifted greater attention toward defense topics, putting the industry further in the spotlight and highlighting the importance of innovation in this area. Overall, the aerospace industry in Bavaria has evolved into a vibrant, future-oriented sector.
How has Munich Aerospace developed over the past 15 years?
Over the past 15 years, we’ve achieved far more than we originally set out to. We’ve been able to support more than 50 scholarship holders, which reflects our strong commitment to fostering young talent. In addition, we’ve organized numerous events that promote exchange and collaboration within the industry, and we’ve launched a wide range of partnerships and research groups. Today, we are a small but highly effective team of ten. Together, we continuously develop new ideas and initiatives – always in close coordination with our board and members – to actively shape the future of aerospace.
Dr. Lermann, you’ve been steering Munich Aerospace as Managing Director for nearly three years. What are the organization’s core focus areas?
Munich Aerospace sees itself as a bridge-builder between academia, industry, and policy. Our focus lies in connecting cutting-edge research and talent development with practical technology transfer. In other words, we bring the right partners together, support interdisciplinary teams, and create formats that foster visibility and exchange. Beyond our doctoral scholarships and research groups, we implement targeted projects that strategically strengthen Bavaria’s aerospace sector – from international education programs to digital platforms like the Aerospace Map. Our mindset is collaborative and network-oriented – and that’s what makes us such an effective research alliance.
How do you currently perceive the aerospace industry in Bavaria? What role does Munich Aerospace play in this context?
Bavaria is extremely well-positioned in the aerospace sector – with strong companies, excellent universities, and a wide range of innovative start-ups. At the same time, we are facing major transformations: sustainability, digitalization, defense capabilities, and the new space economy all demand new alliances and significantly faster innovation cycles. This is where Munich Aerospace comes in: we create platforms to bring these players together, strategically coordinate research initiatives, and accelerate the transfer of results into real-world applications. Our goal is to make Bavaria’s aerospace sector as a whole fit for the future – while also highlighting new talent and fresh ideas.
What are the association’s plans – where is the journey headed?
Our goals for the coming years are clear: Munich Aerospace is set to continue growing – as a driver of innovation, a supporter of talent, and a connector within the industry. We want to invest even more in strategic alliances, such as partnerships with industry players, start-ups, and international networks. At the same time, we will expand formats that bring science and application together in a concrete way – whether through the Munich Space Summit, new research initiatives, or joint digital platforms. We also aim to become more visible in the aviation sector going forward. In short: we want to make an even greater impact – bringing the best minds and organizations in Bavaria together at one table.
Munich Aerospace was founded in July 2010.
In the picture: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang A. Herrmann, Prof. Dr. Jan Wörner, Martin Zeil, Prof. Dr. Merith Niehuss, Prof. Dr. Mirko Hornung (from left).
