Funding
Our funding focuses on universities and scientific institutions in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia.
We provide funding for research and teaching in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In addition to major projects within our programmes, we fund individuals and various individual projects.
How we provide funding
The majority of our funding is provided through advertised programmes. Moreover, we also consider individual funding requests. Our funding is currently focused on the three priority topics of artificial intelligence, resource efficiency and life science technologies. Furthermore, we offer non-thematic formats across the entire spectrum of STEM subjects.
Who we support
- Professors
- Junior professors
- PhD students
- Postdocs
- Institutions
- Students
- CZS Endowed Professors
- Junior research group leaders
©iStock / B4LLS
©iStock / B4LLS
How we see ourselves
We are ...
- ... independent
We develop our funding initiatives from our vision for our foundation and our goals. - ... ambitious
As one of the major private science funding organisations, we set high standards for ourselves and the quality of our work. - ... transparent
We present our funding activities transparently and pay attention to the social, economic and environmental impact of our actions.
Funded people in conversation
This scholarship allows me to focus more on my studies and also finance smaller projects, such as my 3D printer, hackathons or working on a Raspberry Pi.
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-Stiftung 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.
For us students, this scholarship is a great honour, an award and recognition for our achievements. Our monthly allowance means we can look towards the new year with a sense of optimism.
In the global competition between top universities, funding from foundations and the business community plays a major role in determining success. For over 130 years, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung has supported the University of Jena and its partners in making Jena internationally visible as a location for business and science.