Cutting-edge research from fundamental principles through to applications
DLR (the German Aerospace Center; Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is Germany's national research and technology centre for aeronautics and space, energy and transport, and security and defence. DLR's work spans a wide range of applications, delivering results and innovations that benefit industry and business, public agencies and authorities, as well as public stakeholders. At the heart of DLR's mission is its commitment to society, which it fulfils through extensive knowledge sharing and targeted technology transfer. Our work is funded by the German federal government. The German Space Agency at DLR is responsible for planning and implementing Germany's space activities on behalf of the federal government. Two project management agencies at DLR manage research and industrial funding.
Organised as a registered association
DLR operates in the legal form of a registered association. As such, DLR is a legally independent entity with its own charter and statutory bodies (boards).
DLR Senate
DLR's highest body is its General Assembly. This has delegated essential tasks to the DLR Senate, which meets twice a year as a supervisory body. The DLR Senate consists of up to 33 members, representing the scientific, business, industrial and state sectors equally. The Chair of the Senate is a State Secretary in the Federal Ministry, which is responsible to the Federal Government for DLR. In addition to its supervisory role, the Senate advises and supports DLR on important issues such as its strategic direction and setting the course for the further development of DLR.
DLR Executive Board
DLR is managed by its Executive Board. Since October 2020, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla has been Chair of the Executive Board, while Klaus Hamacher is Vice Chairman. The Executive Board also includes Prof. Dr. Karsten Lemmer, responsible for the Executive Board department 'Innovation, Transfer and Research Infrastructure', and Dr. Walther Pelzer, responsible for the 'German Space Agency at DLR' based in Bonn.