What moves the world is the topic of the Erhard summit in Kaltenbrunn. The focus is on a strong Germany, but the view extends into space. Astronaut Matthias Maurer spoke about the importance of space travel and the feeling of weightlessness. Meanwhile, organizers are excited about the summit's appeal.
Kaltenbrunn
– Matthias Maurer answers the question of whether there are extraterrestrials without hesitation. “Yeah, sure. I was one myself.” The Saarlander (54) is one of twelve Germans who have traveled in space. As an astronaut for the European Space Agency (ESA), the doctor of materials science was part of the team on the international space station ISS for six months, from November 2021 to May 2022. This included an extravehicular operation. Maurer reported in an interview with interviewer Oliver Rolof that he felt like Alice in Wonderland out there. At the “Future & Finance Day” of the Erhard Summit at Gut Kaltenbrunn, Maurer talks about the opportunities that experiments in space offer for the development of new technologies.
Time-lapse experiments in weightlessness
Also for medicine: In weightlessness, tumors mutated more in twelve days than they would otherwise in twelve years, reports Maurer, who himself works with materials. He carried out countless experiments on the ISS at a tight schedule, all designed by top-class scientists. Maurer is concerned that Germany could miss out on the rapid development of space travel and leave the growth market in space to other countries. “We have to do more.” It’s worth investing now: “It’s like the Internet 20 years ago.”
Maurer dreams of the moon mission, despite the significantly higher quality of life on Earth. He missed a cup of capuccino on the ISS. “Coffee was rarely available, and when it was, it was only made from powder in bags.”
The summit offers plenty of space for discussions
At the summit, on the other hand, there was lots of coffee, brewed by elegant machines, finely cooked food in delicate bowls and lots of opportunities to talk to each other. “People have time when they come to us. “That would be different in Munich,” says publisher Wolfram Weimer, who has now organized the summit for the tenth time together with his wife Christiane Goetz-Weimer. The “meeting of decision-makers” has grown year after year. For the first time this year it lasts three days. It will stay that way. “We could also fill a fourth day,” says Weimer. Around 1,000 visitors come every day to hear over 100 speakers from business, politics and science. According to Weimer, the special Tegernsee atmosphere has been preserved.
The highlight: awarding of the Peace Prize to Yulia Navalnaya
This Friday, Julia Navalnaya is expected to receive the media freedom award for herself and her late husband Alexei Navalny, accompanied by other Russian opposition members. For Weimer, this is the highlight of the summit. Because it gets under your skin to meet people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for freedom. He thinks it's good that demonstrators also want to come today, as long as everything is peaceful: "Politicians should see what's going on in the country." The fact that citizens are drawing attention to their needs "fits the spirit of the summit."