Talents
The minds behind the innovations
Well-trained professionals in the STEM fields are a fundamental prerequisite for future innovations in science and industry. The foundation's financial and non-material support for talents creates space for personal development and supports scientific careers.
What do we mean by 'Talents'?
Talents can be found in all areas of life and at every stage of a career. Our talent development initiatives are aimed at students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scientists in the STEM disciplines. Support includes individual assistance, such as Deutschlandstipendien for students and positions for early-career researchers. Additionally, we assist universities in aligning their teaching more closely with future societal challenges—for example, in computer science education and sustainability in engineering.
What do we aim to achieve?
In the "Talents" funding area, we pursue the following objectives:
- Attracting and supporting young professionals for STEM research
- Developing educational content that addresses future societal challenges
- Enhancing career prospects for early-career researchers at universities, universities of applied sciences, and other research institutions
Why do we consider 'Talents' an area of potential?
The founder of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, Ernst Abbe, came from modest background. His exceptional talent was recognised early on, and he received multiple scholarships throughout his life. These enabled him to pursue a successful educational path and leave behind an impressive legacy with far-reaching impact on science, industry, and society.
Ernst Abbe was always aware of the importance of nurturing talent and actively engaged in it. Even before establishing the foundation, he anonymously supported young lecturers at the University of Jena by supplementing their salaries. Until the end of his life, it was his wish to provide targeted support to particularly gifted young individuals in their scientific advancement. Against this historical backdrop, we place special emphasis on promoting talented researchers in the STEM fields.
