The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is the national aeronautics and space research centre of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport, security and digitalisation is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. DLR is also responsible for the planning and implementation of Germany's space activities on behalf of the federal government. DLR is also the umbrella organisation for one of Germany's largest project management agencies.
DLR's mission comprises the exploration of Earth and the Solar System and research for protecting the environment. This includes the development of environment-friendly technologies for energy supply and future mobility, as well as for communications and security. DLR's research portfolio ranges from fundamental research to the development of products for tomorrow. In this way, DLR contributes the scientific and technical expertise that it has acquired to the enhancement of Germany as a location for industry and technology. DLR operates major research facilities for its own projects and as a service for clients and partners. It also fosters the development of the next generation of researchers, provides expert advisory services to government and is a driving force in the regions where its facilities are located.
Working at DLR
DLR has approximately 8700 employees at 27 locations in Germany: Cologne (headquarters), Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Braunschweig, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cochstedt, Cottbus, Dresden, Göttingen, Hamburg, Hannover, Jena, Jülich, Lampoldshausen, Neustrelitz, Oberpfaffenhofen, Oldenburg, Rheinbach, Stade, St. Augustin, Stuttgart, Trauen, Ulm, Weilheim and Zittau. DLR also has offices in Brussels, Paris, Tokyo and Washington D.C.
In the fiscal year 2017, DLR's budget for research and operations was 1001 million euro, 49 percent of which was third-party funding acquired through competitive tendering. The space budget, which is also managed by DLR, was 1536 million euro. Of this, the German contribution to financing the European Space Agency (ESA) accounted for 56 percent, the German contribution to the national space programme for 18 percent and space research at DLR for 26 percent. The DLR Project Management Agency's funding was 1279 million euro and the Project Management Agency for Aeronautics Research and Technology had a budget of 167 million euro.
DLR’s performance is based on its well trained and highly motivated employees, who are able to continue their training while at DLR. Equal opportunities are a top priority. Flexible working hours, part-time employment and special support measures ensure that work and family life can be satisfactorily combined.
Video: DLR at a glance — international sign language
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