Short description
Nomination and selection for the Carl Zeiss Humboldt Research Award takes place in the Humboldt Research Award Programme. Nomination via the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung is not possible. Applications can be submitted throughout the year.
We create an open environment for scientific breakthroughs
in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Our focuses:
Since 2007, we have supported
5
projects and invested
5
in funding.
Become a part of it yourself
Ongoing call for application
Programme: Carl Zeiss Humboldt Research Award Nomination in the Humboldt Research Award Programme
Programme: CZS training CZS Nature Masterclasses in Scientific Writing and Publishing
Short description
The Masterclasses offered in the current proposal will take place in the winter semester 2025/26. There will be one multi-day webinar for doctoral students and one for postdocs.
Programme: CZS Plus CZS Plus: Call for application for CZS Alumni
Short description
Alumni of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung can apply for funding for outreach, communication and exchange projects throughout the year to accompany their research and teaching activities.
CZS Science Communication
Short description
As part of this Call for applications, funding for science communication measures can be applied for. Precondition is an existing funding from the Foundation.
Programme: CZS research boost CZS research boost: Call for application for newly appointed HAW professors
Short description
With this call for proposals, the Foundation enables newly appointed professors to carry out specific research projects during their first two years at a university of applied sciences. The funds do not have to be used exclusively for the research project.
Programme: CZS Nexus CZS Nexus
Short description
The call for proposals aims to promote interdisciplinary research groups that are related to one or more of the CZS focus topics of "Artificial Intelligence", "Resource Efficiency" or "Life Science Technologies".
Programme: CZS Transfer CZS Transfer 2026: Data
Short description
The call for proposals “CZS Transfer 2026: Data” addresses research into technologies that improve our understanding of data in biology and medicine, as well as its processing and use.
The Carl Zeiss Foundation promotes research on cutting-edge topics at universities in an impressive and consistent way. This support helps these mostly interdisciplinary research groups be recognised as leaders, both nationally and internationally. It’s a very exciting task for me to contribute to their success.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first and only endowed professorship in Germany – and one of the first in the world – to deal exclusively with the interface of AI and law. I really appreciate being able to focus entirely on these research questions in my chair – and to have a great team of young researchers doing research on similar topics.
The Carl Zeiss Foundation is a blessing for science. It provides funding precisely where usual funding instruments stop, where taking chances at the highest risk level can lead to breakthroughs at disciplinary boundaries, and always with a view to young scientists – with a great deal of freedom and in an uncomplicated, transparent fashion.
Our funding goals
We provide funding for research and teaching in the STEM fields. In this way, we continue our founder’s mission in a contemporary form, following four guiding principles.
The Foundation considers itself to be a partner for people engaged in visionary and outstanding academic work in the fields of natural science and engineering.
