[lnsru]

There will be no all-purpose robots in Germany. Lilium and Volocopter stories (both VTOL aircraft startups who run out of money) show how innovation works in Germany. Getting early stage hardware startup funded in Germany is absolutely mission impossible. Where the company in US would be raising series B round… the same company in Germany would get 50000€ from couple angel investors for 30% shares. Another source of innovation might be some university. But these are too occupied with grant hunt and crazy science, that nothing practical may come out. These all rants, but also backed up by personal experience. Plus as other commenters mentioned - software development is just not a competency in Germany. And software eats the world.

[kmmlng]

It is true that Germany (and Europe as a whole) suffers from a less than ideal investment and innovation landscape. The companies you mentioned, however, worked on products that barely make any sense. It is clear that those kinds of companies will not (and should not) survive outside of 0% interest paradigms.

[lnsru]

I think, other countries would help these companies pivoting to defense/military applications. Munich in Germany is basically stuck during rush hour. Flying ambulance or cop car sounds good to me. And such application would be with high probability successful export product.

[tobias3]

We already have Airbus Helicopters development and production in that area (Donauwörth).