Guest country at the Hannover Messe: "Europe is Canada's most important ally"
Between the trade war and threats from America, Canada presented itself at the Hannover Messe. How do Canadian exhibitors orient themselves?
Canada's stand at the Hannover Messe
(Image: Deutsche Messe AG)
In the midst of annexation threats and a trade war on the part of the USA, Canada is the partner country of the Hannover Messe. Hundreds of Canadian companies, educational institutions and organizations presented themselves at the industrial trade fair. These include Nordspace, a space company that is developing a purely Canadian launch vehicle, and the University of Toronto, which is focusing more on Europe.
Sovereignty in space
As the only G7 country without a launch vehicle or development program, Canada is dependent on other countries and their goodwill to launch satellites and other payloads into space. This dependence has already had concrete consequences for Canada. The RADARSAT-2 Earth observation satellite was launched into space by a Russian launch vehicle in 2007, four years late, after US security authorities prevented the launch on a US rocket due to "national security concerns" about the satellite's radar.
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Several Canadian space companies are striving to break this dependency. One of them, and represented at the Hannover Messe, is Nordspace. The company is developing the Tundra launch vehicle, which belongs to the class of "small lift launch vehicles". With a target capacity of 500 kg , the rocket is suitable for small satellites and other payloads, but would be too weak for RADARSAT-2. This class of rocket also includes the Spectrum from Isar Aerospace, which was launched for the first time at the end of March.
But just building the rocket is not enough, because it cannot be launched into space without a suitable launch site. The busiest launch sites are in the USA and Russia, both nations with now poor relations with Canada. Nordspace could now benefit from this, as they are planning to build and operate a launch site on Newfoundland on the east coast of Canada. The ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for 2025.
(Image:Â Nordspace / Vimeo, Screenshot: heise online)
Because Canada is so far north, the usual satellite launches in orbits above the equator are impractical – the rocket's fuel consumption would be too high. Accordingly, the focus is on polar orbits, which run in a north-south direction. All components of the space program are to remain within the country's borders and under Canadian control. In addition to security policy aspects, this would generate industrial jobs in Canada.
Partners in Science
In view of the rapidly deteriorating relations with the USA, Canada is focusing not only on its own rocket but also on deepening transatlantic ties, particularly with the EU. Great progress has already been made here in research. The country joined the EU research program Horizon Europe in January 2024 and can therefore apply for funding from a pot of 53 billion euros. This also applies to Canada's largest university, the University of Toronto. It was also represented at the Hannover Messe.
"Europe is Canada's most important ally"
Sindhu Menon, University of Toronto
Sindhu Menon coordinates collaborations with companies and other research institutions at the university. "We are delighted to be joining Horizon Europe," says Menon. Europe has become Canada's most important ally. She emphasizes how important joining the program is for the development of new partnerships. In concrete terms, this means that the university has set up its own office to apply for funding and coordinate with European partners. Links to Germany exist with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, among others.
Canada is already a very popular destination for international students. The arrests of foreign students and the revocation of hundreds of visas in the USA will only increase this phenomenon, confirms Ali Dolatabadi, professor at the university. His email inbox is already filling up with inquiries from international students, including from Europe. "There are many similarities in culture and democratic values with Europe," emphasizes Dolatabadi. However, he also sees differences in research between Canada and the EU. For example, companies in Canada fund many research projects, while in Europe more is done via national funding.
"The feeling of patriotism is almost palpable," says Menon. She sees a shift in the mentality of many Canadians towards more pride in their own achievements. However, the conversation also made it clear how much Canada values the EU as a partner and hopes for further partnerships. Perhaps some have already been concluded during the trade fair.
(mki)
