Dear members, partners & friends,

September 1st is typically Moving Day in Boston, the nation's student capital ("repeat after us: you cannot drive a moving truck on Storrow Drive, you cannot...", Boston city officials desperately tweeted 12 months ago). Clearly, things are different this year. Colleges are grappling how to manage the return of students onto their campuses (if at all), and Boston's real estate is trying to adjust to the future. While the life sciences footprint in this area only seems to grow (according to a very recent Q2 2020 report by JLL "leasing velocity didn’t abate in the second quarter despite on-going challenges presented by COVID-19"), things are looking differently for tech companies who are wondering whether to keep their employees remote -- forever? (see news articles below).

At the beginning of 2020, when we conceived the "Smart City" topic for our 2020 German-American Economic Forum, we had no idea how the pandemic might accelerate trends that seemed futuristic only a few months ago. We are excited to launch a virtual Friday one-hour event series, the first one titled "Pandemic Resilient Cities and the Role of Technology" on October 16th. Stay tuned for the invitation! #GAEF2020

In the meantime, registration is open for the next YP in-person Stammtisch as well as a virtual event with Apprenti and the CIO of Cengage highlighting a tech apprenticeship program.

No updates this week on the travel front. Germany is discussing to stop the mandatory free Covid testing for travelers from high risk countries as the labs operate at capacity, but no official word on that yet.

Stay healthy.

Emily Westhoven
Executive Director
Upcoming GABC Events
Now in Person!
A last Stammtisch "Hurrah" before the cooler Fall weather kicks in. Capitalizing on hopefully a nice summer evening and the desire to meet face-to-face instead of virtual at least once this year, the September Stammtisch will be in person, but for only a limited number of people. The group will meet in front of the Hatch Memorial Shell (Esplanade) in Boston and then seek a space on the lawn. Masks will be required and it will be socially distanced. In the event of inclement weather, the Stammtisch will move virtual. Hosts are YP co-chairs Susanna Bächle and Thorben Beckmann.
Date: September 1, 2020
Location: Hatch Memorial Shell | Boston
No of guests: 10 people max (plus YP organizers)
Time: 7PM onwards
Many countries have looked to the German apprenticeship model as a pathway to a career, but very few have replicated this approach. Join representatives from Apprenti for a presentation and a moderated discussion on how this non-profit has created a US version of an apprenticeship program geared towards tech talent, what it is looking to achieve and hear the perspective of the CIO of Cengage who has already introduced this program into his company. More info

Speakers:
Rainer Gawlick, Chair, Apprenti MA Advisory Board
Jim Chilton, CIO, Cengage
Lauren Jones, Massachusetts Director, Apprenti
 
Date: September 11, 2020
Time: 12PM to 1PM
UPCOMING...
First event on Friday, October 16
Our German-American Economic Forum (GAEF) will not take place in person on November 6th as originally scheduled. Instead, we will be rolling out a series of monthly virtual "Smart Cities" events spanning from 2020 into 2021 and leading into a conference at a date still to be announced. #GAEF2020

In the meantime, stay tuned for announcements of our monthly 1-hour virtual events on such topics as
  • Pandemic resilient cities & role of technology
  • Models for smart & resilient cities
  • Smart tech in the built environment
  • Green post-pandemic recovery

The GAEF Smart Cities 20/21 series will kick-off on Friday, October 16 at 12PM -- save-the-date!
Open Position
The German International School Boston seeks an energetic and experienced Communications/Marketing Manager to develop and implement a robust and effective communications, marketing and PR strategy that strengthens the School’s brand and supports the School’s strategic objectives. This is a full-time position. For detailed job description, please click here
Update from Lufthansa / Logan Airport
LH422/423 (BOS-FRA) will remain at 5 weekly flights in September and is planned to return to a daily operation in October. It currently is the only direct flight to Germany out of Logan.

LX54/55 (BOS-ZRH) is now planned to return in October.

Update: Lufthansa Lounge will re-open Sep 1st 2020. Initially, it will open its doors only on LHG flight-operating days, 4 hours prior to departure. 

All of these announcements are subject to re-evaluation at any point.
In the News | Pressespiegel
As seen in
Pandemic helping Greater Boston's life science industry, including outlying areas
August 19, 2020
"...published research Tuesday showing the Boston area benefiting more than any region in the country from what's expected to be a quickening pace of growth for the life sciences industry in the wake of the pandemic. That growth comes from both a demand for advances in health technology and treatments as well as life science firms' push toward the suburbs, where they can spread out more safely with lab space.."

As seen in
Boston tech firms reevaluate real estate needs post-pandemic
August 21, 2020
"Of course, not all tech tenants are looking to downsize. Construction continues at Amazon’s future Seaport offices. And even as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that 50% of his company’s massive workforce could work remotely for up to the next decade, brokers around Boston say the company is looking for around 300,000 square feet of office space.."

As seen in
Why German researchers held a large indoor concert during the pandemic
August 24, 2020
"The 1,400 or so people who attended the concert, one of the largest indoor gatherings in Germany in months, were not breaking any rules. In fact, they were the subjects of a study by researchers at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, a public institution, to gather data on crowded indoor events during the coronavirus pandemic."

As seen in
Gesundheitsminister für Ende der Testpflicht nach den Ferien
24 August, 2020
"Keine kostenlosen Tests mehr bei der Einreise und keine Testpflicht bei Rückkehr aus Risikoländern: Dafür sprechen sich die Gesundheitsminister von Bund und Ländern aus."

Travel (updated 8/21)
As you may be thinking about summer travel plans, we compiled a few guidelines and restrictions that are in place. Ohne Gewähr: Please note that this may change at any time and please always refer to the most updated information issued by the respective countries.

Travel to Germany:
  • The German government, in coordination with the German states, has announced the easing of border restrictions with neighboring countries. On June 15, travelers already within the Schengen Zone will be able to travel more freely into Germany.
  • At this time, airlines are resuming additional direct flights between the United States and Germany. Please note: travel restrictions are still in effect for travel from the United States to Germany. (Source: U.S. Embassies & Consulates in Germany)
  • U.S. citizens who are not residents of the EU and do not fall into one of several narrow exceptions will be denied entry to Germany. Travelers should be prepared for the possibility that additional travel restrictions will be implemented with little or no advance notice. (Source: U.S. Embassies & Consulates in Germany)
  • In case you enter Germany from abroad and have been in a risk area* for 14 days prior to entry, generally, a 14- day quarantine is mandatory. Exceptions are possible in the case of a negative PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 for a maximum of 48 hours before entry or after entry. Travellers from EU countries, the Schengen area and the United Kingdom are not required to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Germany unless their entry is from a country with a high infection rate* and the corresponding regulation of the federal state** requires this. (Source: Robert Koch Institut)
  • UPDATE 7/1: As of July 1, the European Union announced the lifting of travel restrictions for some non-E.U. countries (see text here) but restrictions remain in place for the United States. (Source: U.S. Embasssies & Consulates in Germany)
  • UPDATE 7/10: *The Robert Koch Institut has determined that the entire U.S. is considerend a country with a high infection rate, and does not exclude certain states (as it did previously) The list ist being updated daily.
  • UPDATE 8/14: American spouses/family members of German citizens can now enter Germany to reunite with their partners/familys. (Source: Federal Foreign Office)

Travel to U.S. from Europe
  • Foreign nationals who have been in any of the following countries during the past 14 days may not enter the United States:
  • European Schengen area Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City
  • United Kingdom
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States, certain family members, and other individuals who meet specified exceptions who have been in one of the countries listed above in the past 14 days will be allowed to enter the United States through one of 15 airports
  • After arriving to the United States from one of these countries, CDC recommends that travelers stay home and monitor their health for 14 days. (Source: CDCUPDATE 6/26: Executive Order "Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak"
UPDATE for Massachusetts as of 7/24: Today, Governor Baker issued a new travel order stating that effective August 1, 2020, all visitors and returning residents entering Massachusetts are required to "Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless you are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health; to quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts. If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arrival, visitors, and residents must quarantine until they receive a negative test result. Failure to comply may result in a $500 fine per day." More information
UPDATE 8/14: "Students traveling from the Schengen Area, the UK, and Ireland with valid F-1 and M-1 visas do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to seek an individual national interest exception to travel." (Source: U.S. Dept. of State)
UPDATE 8/21: Those with valid L-1 visas on 6/24/2020 may be eligible for an NIE:
As a result of recent guidance, many categories of travel that provide a substantial economic benefit to the U.S. economy are eligible for a National Interest Exception (NIE) to the Presidential Proclamation on Suspension of Entry for Nonimmigrants and Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus (PPNCOV). This includes, but is not limited to investors, technical experts and specialists as well as senior-level managers and executives and their dependents.
To inquire about eligibility and to confirm this information contact a U.S. Consulate in Germany.
UPDATED: Free Covid-19 Testing at Frankfurt Airport

Lufthansa has partnered with Centogene to offer fast PCR Corona tests. The test, certified by the relevant health authorities in Germany, only requires a throat swab and provides results within six hours. The test results are delivered via an app link.

Location: Frankfurt Airport between Terminal 1 and the long-distance railway station (ICE Bahnhof)
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Registration: via at https://corona.centogene.com
CostStandard Process: 59€ incl. VAT – Results within 12 hours after sample receipt in >98% of cases
Express Process: 139€ incl. VAT – Results within 6 hours after sample receipt in >98% of cases
For an additional charge of 9€, there is the option to add identity verification on to your purchase. Your identification details, including your passport number/travel document details, will be included on the medical report - verifying that the test results belong to you and have not been tampered with.

NEW: Mandatory tests on return to or arrival in Germany from high risk countries
Travellers arriving in Germany from regions with an increased risk of infection will have to undergo a coronavirus test from the beginning of August 2020. The test is free of charge and can be carried out, for example, at test centres at the airports. The obligatory test must be done within a maximum of 72 hours after entering the country. Tests from abroad are accepted, provided they are not older than 48 hours at the time of arrival. (Source: Lufthansa)

Testing is also available at
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 Email:  info@gabc-boston.org    Web Site: www.gabc-boston.org