6.1 Initial situation

partnerships will play an important role for the EU as green hydrogen can be produced at much lower cost in other parts of the world. With this in mind, we should avoid sealing off the European hydrogen market and instead push the negotiations for clear hydrogen standards and regulations at both the European and international level. Diversification of partnerships will avoid further unilateral dependencies and promote real market competition with a view to the rapid development of hydrogen.

The transition to renewable energy offers the EU the opportunity not only to increase its energy security, but also to consolidate its leading position in the development of clean technologies and to conquer new markets through green technology exports. For the achievement of this goal, industry will play a central role in the development and production of the necessary components of clean technologies (e.g., electrolysers). To ensure that decarbonisation efforts do not lead to the deindustrialisation of Europe, decision-makers must not forget to include European industry when designing new policies. Additionally, in order to consolidate Europe's leadership in renewable technologies, there is an urgent need to promote renewable energy development projects as soon as possible as the time necessary for a new technology to reach the market is often more than ten years. Indeed, once a new technology has been discovered, various feasibility studies and pilot projects are needed and only then, actors will take the risk to apply it it to bigger projects. New funding instruments and stable regulatory framework conditions will be a crucial factor in keeping up with international technological competition. Among the existing policy instruments for the implementation of climate targets and technology promotion are Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs), lead markets for green commodities and quotas for climate-neutral products. Finally, to accelerate the uptake of these key technologies, infrastructure (e.g. a hydrogen distribution network) must be developed promptly.

6. Space policy

6.1 Initial situation

NewSpace, the commercialisation of the space sector, and its growing interconnection with the nonspace economy is gaining significance across the world. In the digital age, space holds the key to emerging technologies such as autonomous driving, Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things (IoT) and realtime global connectivity anywhere in the world. NewSpace helps make our economy and society more sustainable, more digital and more innovative as well as strengthening competitiveness in many sectors.

NewSpace also makes an important contribution to the global protection of the environment and climate and increased sustainability on Earth. Satellites provide precise data and information on the atmosphere, the air and water quality, and the condition of soils and plants continuously and across territorial borders. This data helps us to better understand climate change and other environmental phenomena and to develop effective measures for the protection of the climate and the environment. With laser communication, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, individual applications can use this data and information more quickly and more effectively.

NewSpace can also contribute to meeting social and political sustainability goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). NewSpace can also contribute significantly to effective civil protection and proactive and reactive crisis management in the event of natural disasters such as floods and forest fires.

NewSpace harbours immense potential for data-based business models, integrated value chains and innovations far beyond the space sector. Already today, 76 percent of German NewSpace companies