German Consulate General Los Angeles

Berlin and LA are sister cities, a partnership that stretches back to 1967. Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (Senatskanzlei Berlin) along with a delegation of business people and parliamentarians, were here in Los Angeles last week to reaffirm our shared sustainable development priorities as well as strengthen the cultural and economic ties that bind our two cities together. In anticipation of the numerous major sporting events taking place in LA over the next 4 years, Mr. Wegner discussed partnership in the infrastructure/transportation space with City of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, all things green tech at the eponymous GREENTECH FESTIVAL, autonomous driving technology at Google, and the importance of the film industry to both cities during a reception at Villa Aurora. A very productive and mutually beneficial trip for all involved. Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) | Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e.V.

?? Researchers and innovators in Germany have the freedom to cooperate! Promoting collaborations with partners from around the globe is a top priority here in Germany. Follow this weeks’ special issue “Freedom to Cooperate” – and explore the unique opportunities for international cooperation that Germany has to offer. We have visited international researchers working at German universities and research institutions. They provide exciting insights into their collaborative projects with international partners. Moreover, we have compiled a selection of funding programmes that support international cooperation in research and innovation. Learn more at ?? https://sohub.io/c08h

Consul General Sasse was pleased to join her colleagues from Ireland, Japan, Sweden, and the UK for an inspiring roundtable discussion, organized by the British American Business Council Los Angeles (BABC LA) aimed at fostering stronger economic and cultural ties. #GlobalLeadership #Innovation #CaliforniaInvestment

?????? Applications for the BETD Media Fellowship 2025 are now open! Travel to #Berlin and take the chance to look behind the scenes of the global #Energiewende and report on it! #JointheDialogue, find out more, and apply via the BETD fellows website: https://lnkd.in/eyrQKHRe

"Harnessing the Power of AI: Key Moves for Business Growth and Innovation” was the topic of discussion at SAP’s HanaHaus in Newport Beach last week. Organized by GACC WEST - Representative of German Business, the roundtable brought together experts from diverse perspectives to discuss the growing impact of AI and how it can be ethically integrated into the business landscape. Consul General Sasse offered opening remarks about the EU AI Act and how AI can be utilized to benefit society. #EthicalAI #BusinessInnovation

Germany has cemented its role as a global leader in recycling #EV batteries. Today, Mercedes-Benz AG opened Europe's first battery recycling plant with an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process. Mercedes-Benz is the first car manufacturer to close the battery recycling loop with its own in-house facility, creating "a genuine circular economy." The plant began operations on Monday in the German town of Kuppenheim. The facility has the capacity to recover over 96% of used batteries and transform 2,500 tons of recovered materials into more than 50,000 battery modules for new all-electric Mercedes-Benz models annually. Using an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process, the factory breaks down, separates, and retrieves battery materials such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt for reuse in a net carbon-neutral facility. This approach consumes less energy due to low processing temperatures and is powered by green electricity. Mercedes-Benz said that it has invested "tens of millions of euros" to construct the new plant, which is also receiving funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz) as part of a scientific research project with three German universities. The project aims to reexamine the entire process chain for recycling EV batteries, including logistics and reintegration concepts. The opening of the plant marks a key milestone toward enhancing raw materials sustainability, said Ola Kallenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. "Together with our partners from industry and science, we are sending a strong signal of innovative strength for sustainable electric mobility and value creation in Germany and Europe."

???Discover the Future of AI in Business!??? Join our partner GACC WEST - Representative of German Business for "Harnessing the Power of AI: Key Moves for Business Growth and Innovation," an insightful evening dedicated to exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping business landscapes. Dive into crucial discussions on: ?? Strategies to mitigate bias and ensure fairness ?? Best practices for data privacy and security ?? Ethical AI design and implementation This event is a must for business leaders, strategists, and tech enthusiasts looking to leverage AI responsibly and effectively. Don't miss the chance to gain a comprehensive understanding of AI's capabilities and how to integrate them into your business practices. Register now to secure your spot and transform your approach to business innovation with AI??? https://t1p.de/hshpv ????October 24 (TH), 5:30 - 8:30 PM PDT ???HanaHaus Newport Beach #EthicalAI #BusinessInnovation #TechEvent

As part of the Embassy of Germany in Washington, D.C.’s “Germany on Campus” program which introduces young American college students to a series of topics that connect Germany and the US, our Honorary Consul in Nevada participated in programming at University of Nevada-Las Vegas focused on German companies doing business in Nevada. Specifically, Siemens’ involvement in the Brightline West High Speed Rail Project. This 218-mile, all-electric high-speed rail service will be the first of its kind in the United States, connecting Las Vegas to Greater Los Angeles. Thank you, Dr. Callahan (UNLV), Rich Whitehead (Siemens Mobility), and Honorary Consul Lower for highlighting this exciting example of German-American collaboration happening in our region.

AI and its impact on society, both positive and negative, is all over the news these days. What role do ethics play in how government and business approach the development and use of AI? This was the question addressed at this week’s Ethical AI Roundtable, hosted by?SAP Labs and GACC WEST - Representative of German Business at the?Thomas Mann House here in LA. Consul General Sasse and experts from a wide range of fields discussed real world cases of AI application, weighing in on topics covering privacy and data governance, regulation and compliance, and bias and fairness. Lumina Spes Group | Niclas Braun | Tina Waddington

Germany and California share a common goal: climate neutrality by 2045. This makes us natural partners in the energy transition, as emphasised by State Secretary Anja Hajduk (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) during her visit to RE+ earlier this week. Germany was this year’s spotlight country of the No. 1 fair on renewable energy in North America.