Overview of funding opportunities

The majority of our funding is provided through current tenders. Our funding focuses on the key topics of artificial intelligence, resource efficiency and life science technologies. Furthermore, we offer non-thematic formats across the entire spectrum of STEM subjects.

4

Calls for application

Target group
Institution type

    14 programmes available

    Carl Zeiss Humboldt Research Award Professors, Scientists - University, University of Applied Sciences Active funding

    Short description programme

    The research award honours top international scientists whose discoveries, theories or understandings have had a lasting impact on their field and contribute to diversity issues.



    Call for application: "Nomination in the Humboldt Research Award Programme"

    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.

    CZS Plus CZS Alumni - University, Non-university research institution, University of Applied Sciences Active funding

    Short description programme

    CZS Plus is an exclusive funding programme for scientists formerly funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung. Outreach and exchange projects can be funded.



    Call for application: "CZS Plus: Call for application for CZS Alumni"

    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 CommunicationActive funding

    As part of this Call for applications, funding for science communication measures can be applied for. Precondition is an existing funding from the Foundation.

    CZS training Professors, PhD students, Postdocs, Junior professors, Junior research group leaders, CZS Endowed Professors, Scientists, CZS Alumni - University, University of Applied Sciences Active funding

    Short description programme

    In cooperation with external partners, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung offers further training with different specialisms for its current and former funding partners.



    Call for application: "CZS STEM Impact School"

    As an advanced training programme fostering science communication, the CZS STEM Impact School is targeted towards researchers from the natural sciences and engineering. It is organised by “Wissenschaft im Dialog gGmbH”.

    CZS Breakthroughs Professors - University

    Short description programme

    Within the framework of the ‘CZS Breakthroughs’ programme, the Carl Zeiss Foundation funds top international research from Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia.

    CZS Center Professors, Institution - University, Non-university research institution, University of Applied Sciences

    Short description programme

    The CZS Centres are cross-location, interdisciplinary research collaborations in the Foundation's focus topics. They serve to establish and expand innovative, internationally visible research centres in the CZS funding states.

    CZS endowed professorships at universities of applied sciences Institution - University of Applied Sciences

    Short description programme

    The Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung is providing funding for professorships at universities of applied sciences as part of the “CZS Professorships at Universities of Applied Sciences” programme.

    CZS German scholarships Students - University, University of Applied Sciences

    Short description programme

    Germany needs highly motivated and well-trained young researchers to shape the scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow. That is why we support more than 150 scholarship holders at a total of 19 universities.

    CZS Nexus Postdocs - University, Non-university research institution

    Short description programme

    The funding programme supports outstanding young scientists who wish to implement exciting ideas at interfaces between various STEM fields.

    CZS Prototypes Professors, Postdocs - University, University of Applied Sciences

    Short description programme

    The programme is intended to help scientists to develop prototypes from their research projects.

    CZS research boost Professors - University of Applied Sciences

    Short description programme

    The program is designed to enable newly appointed professors at universities of applied sciences to successfully start their first research activities.

    CZS Transfer Professors - University of Applied Sciences

    Short description programme

    In the ‘CZS Transfer’ programme, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung promotes outstanding research at universities of applied science.

    CZS Wildcard Professors, Junior research group leaders, Postdocs - University, University of Applied Sciences

    Short description programme

    One ‘Wild’ Idea – Three Scientists – Maximum Freedom – With the CZS Wildcard funding programme, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung gives interdisciplinary teams the opportunity to freely bring forward unconventional research ideas at a very early stage.

    CZS-endowed professorships at universities Professors - University

    Short description programme

    Within the framework of the programme ‘CZS endowed professorships at universities’, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung provides funding for professorships at universities for up to ten years.