The budget committee of the Lower House of German Parliament recently set the course for more intensive research in the German aircraft industry. Research funds are to be increased by 150 million Euros to a total of 401 million Euros for the period from 2009 to 2013. One objective is to leave the light metal era behind and to enter that of synthetic materials in order to be competitive in the context of international technological competition.
Therefore, the additional funds are to be used in order to improve research and development in the field of seminal processing and assembly procedures. In particular important to the aircraft industry is the changeover from metal parts to lighter carbon-fibre-reinforced synthetic materials as well as the development of energy efficient jet engines. Small and medium-sized high-tech entities will also particularly benefit from these funds. 