Dear members, partners & friends,
O n this beautiful August summer Friday here in Boston, I expect to receive quite a few "OOO" messages in return for this newsletter. The Economist just asked: "How has the pandemic changed working lives? A study concludes: more meetings, more emails, longer hours" - so congratulations if you managed to sneak away from work for a few days.
For those still reading their emails, OOO or not, we are starting to announce upcoming events, most notably one on September 11 on the topic of apprenticeship with an American twist (registration is open). We are looking forward to hearing the speakers from Apprenti and the CIO from Cengage on this new program. The next Stammtisch will be in person, and we are excited about our Smart Cities virtual event series (stay tuned for more) which will launch in October.
There seems to be some easing regarding travel restrictions, at least on an individual basis, most notably the opportunity to apply for NIE (National Interest Exceptions) for L visa holders. See below in our travel section, and as alway "ohne Gewähr"/please double check.
Enjoy summer and stay healthy.
Emily Westhoven
Executive Director
|
|
|
Fall will be here before we know it. A last Stammtisch "Hurrah" before the cooler weather kicks in.
So, capitalizing on hopefully good summer weather 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 place will be announced and it will be an outdoor space in Boston or Cambridge. Masks will be required and it will also be socially distanced. In the event of inclement weather, the Stammtisch will move virtual.
Date: September 1, 2020
Location: An outside location | TBA
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
|
|
|
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.
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
Stay tuned for more information on these upcoming events as part of our GAEF Smart Cities 20/21 series.
|
|
Open Innovation at Bayer | Summer Virtual Meetup
Bayer's LifeHub "AgConnect" series is back for another summer virtual meetup. Join Bayer and members of the AgConnect community for a virtual session about Open Innovation at Bayer. Hear how Bayer LifeHub connects with innovators and entrepreneurs on campus and beyond, and learn about programs that may be of interest to faculty, postdocs, and startups.
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 from 5pm to 6pm
|
|
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
|
|
Drugs, guns and beer: Here are the top Mass. stock gainers of 2020
|
|
"On Tuesday, the S&P 500 stock index closed at an all-time high for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic caused widespread market panic in February. The Nasdaq Composite index also closed at a record high. Biotech companies and drugmakers in particular have benefitted from the pandemic, but the list of the 20 public firms in Massachusetts that have seen the largest percentage stock increases since Jan. 1 encompasses a wide variety of businesses from several sectors."
|
|
Seven months later, what we know about Covid-19 — and the pressing questions that remain
|
|
"In the time since Chinese scientists confirmed the rapidly spreading disease in Wuhan was caused by a new coronavirus and posted its genetic sequence online, an extraordinary amount has been learned about the virus, SARS-CoV-2, the disease it causes, Covid-19, and how they affect us."
|
|
Airport COVID testing hubs and new travel corridors are part of a plan to revive U.S.-Europe air travel
|
|
"The pilot project would link U.S. airports in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and New York City-adjacent Newark, N.J., with Frankfurt and Munich in Germany, along with other major European intercontinental hubs, executives at BDL, which represents Germany’s airports and airlines, said in an online press event Wednesday.
|
|
EU und USA einigen sich auf Mini-Handelsabkommen – Keine Zölle mehr auf US-Hummer
|
|
"Das Abkommen sehe unter anderem vor, dass US-Unternehmen rückwirkend vom 1. August an keine Zölle mehr auf lebenden und gefrorenen Hummer zahlen müssen. 2017 hatten US-Importe dieser Produkte in die EU demnach einen Wert von mehr als 111 Millionen US-Dollar (gut 94 Millionen Euro)."
|
|
As you may be thinking about summer travel plans, we compiled a few guidelines and restrictions that are in place. 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: CDC) UPDATE 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.
Cost: Standard 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
|
|
Our annual supporters (thank you)
|
|
GERMAN-AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL of BOSTON
|
|
|
|
|
|
|