Dear members, partners & friends,

we are sending a last reminder to complete our virtual Gala survey. If you have an opinion, please share it. We will close the survey next week (link to survey below).

The Massachussetts travel order will go into effect tomorrow: If you are currently out of state or planning to visit Massachusetts -- you should pay attention . We have not added any changes to the list of guidelines since last week. (remember, the listing is "ohne Gewähr" and compiled to the best of our knowledge. Always double check before you are making plans.)

There has been some overarching political news from Washington this week relating to Germany, such as the appointment of the next U.S. Ambassador to Berlin ( Col. Douglas Macgregor) and the significant reduction of American troops in Germany. If the latter topic is of interest to you, see the upcoming virtual discussion on Monday organized by the Amerian Council on Germany .

We will be off next week. Please enjoy summer!

Emily Westhoven
Executive Director
Last Chance to Complete Survey!
Our annual Gala is typically our social event highlight of the year. We ask you (members and non-members) to weigh in on moving this into the virtual space (or not).

We know surveys can be cumbersome -- we kept this short and sweet, but your feedback is very valuable to us. The survey is anonymous. Thank you!
*** Thank you to all of you who have already responded ***
From the German Consulate General
Falling Walls Lab: Call for Applications
Bachelor and master students, postdocs, young professionals, entrepreneurs and faculty members
are invited to apply until August 16

Falling Walls Lab is a platform for excellent academics, entrepreneurs and professionals from all disciplines who would like to present their research work, business model, innovative project or transformative idea in front of their peers and a distinguished jury from academia and business.

The call for applications is now open. Bachelor and master students, postdocs, young professionals, entrepreneurs and faculty members are invited to apply. Falling Walls Lab Boston offers an opportunity to pitch ground-breaking ideas and win a spot in the final global competition. If you are a finalist in Boston, you will have the opportunity to represent your institution in front of a virtual global audience during the Falling Walls Lab Conference and to compete for attractive cash and research prizes. 

The virtual Falling Walls Lab Boston will take place on  Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 6 p.m. Applications can be submitted online until August 16 .


Other Events of Note
American Council on Germany:
The Impact of the Proposed US Military Drawdown - for Germany and Beyond
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced the drawdown of nearly 12,000 U.S. troops from Germany. This decision will have a significant impact on the security of Europe - and has the potential to change the dynamic of the German-American partnership. O nline discussion with the Süddeutsche Zeitung’s Deputy Foreign Editor, Paul-Anton Krüger, who will discuss the implications of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Germany.
Monday, August 3 at 11:00 am ET | Registration
In the News | Pressespiegel
As seen in
Mass. economy shrank by 44% rate in second quarter
July 30, 2020
" More recent data signals economic improvement. Massachusetts added an estimated 138,700 jobs in May and June, after losing nearly 700,000 in March and April, according to MassBenchmarks. As of July 19, consumer spending in Massachusetts was just 2% below what it was in January, according to data tracked by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights initiative. "

As seen in
Americans Aren’t Making Babies, and That’s Bad for the Economy
July 29, 2020
"I n June the  Brookings Institution released a study  predicting the U.S. is headed for “a large, lasting baby bust.” Its researchers forecast there will be 300,000 to 500,000 fewer children born in the U.S. in 2021 than there would have been absent the crisis, which amounts to a decrease of roughly 10% from 2019. "

As seen in
Trump's revenge — pulling troops from Germany — will be costly
July 31, 2020
" Forward deployment of American forces always has been a financial bargain as well as a strategic asset. In some cases, American units benefit from direct financial contributions by the host country. In other cases, the contribution is indirect. German support in this category amounts to several hundreds of millions of dollars. "

Gelesen in der
„Made in Germany“ 2.0: Kommt das erste Datenschutz-Unicorn aus Deutschland?
26 Juli 2020
" In den Fünfzigern war „Made in Germany“ das Qualitätssiegel der aufstrebenden Wirtschaftsnation. Was bedeutet es noch in der digitalen Welt? Viele glauben, dass Datenschutz zum nächsten Exportschlager werden kann. "

Open Position
The Goethe-Institut Boston is seeking to hire a part-time Maintenance Technician
(20 hours/week):

Responsibilities include maintaining buildings and installations, management of inventory and office supplies, regular monitoring of safety, functionality and cleanliness of the building and facilities, management of cleaning company, event set-up and support for IT infrastructure. Start date Fall 2020. German language skills a plus!

Travel (Updated 7/24)
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.

T ravel 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 e ffective 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 q uarantine 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
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 – Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Registration : via at  https://corona.centogene.com
Cost : Standard Process : 59€ incl. VAT – Results within  6 hours  after sample receipt in >98% of cases
Express Process : 139€ incl. VAT – Results within  3 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.
Testing is also available at
Our annual supporters (thank you)
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
GERMAN-AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL of BOSTON
 Email:  info@gabc-boston.org     Web Site: www.gabc-boston.org