CZS Breakthroughs AI and the environment
The aim is to explore how intelligent systems can communicate and interact better with their environment. To this end, interdisciplinary research projects are being sought that apply approaches from computer science to fundamental natural processes.
Detailed information:
| Focus topic: | Artificial Intelligence |
|---|---|
| Programme: | CZS Breakthroughs |
| Target group: | Professors |
| Funding budget: | 5.000.000 € |
|---|---|
| Letter of intent deadline: | 14.02.2025 |
| Full proposal deadline: | 04.04.2025 |
Goals
The call for applications ‘CZS Breakthroughs - AI and Environment’ supports innovative research projects at universities in our focus topic artificial intelligence.
The focus of the call for applications is on research into new possibilities for methods of artificial intelligence in communication and interaction with the environment. The aim is to achieve a better understanding of environmental processes. To this end, approaches from computer science are to be applied to fundamental natural processes. Existing environmental data should be used. For example, new paradigms for understanding our environment are to be designed, simulations are to be conceived and carried out, or basic models are to be researched, trained or adapted. Possible applications include weather anomalies, early warning systems for extreme weather situations, climate forecasts or forest/water protection.
Research groups from the field of computer science shall collaborate with other scientists from the natural sciences, in particular from the fields of geosciences, physics and chemistry. In addition, researchers from the fields of agricultural and forestry sciences can participate.
Who is eligible to apply?
In principle, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung’s funding activity is restricted to the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia. The following universities are entitled to submit applications as part of this call for proposals (the number of applications that can be submitted is shown in brackets):
- Baden-Württemberg: Hohenheim (1), Tübingen (1), Freiburg (1), Stuttgart (1), Karlsruhe (1)
- Rhineland-Palatinate: Mainz (1), Kaiserslautern-Landau (2), Koblenz (1), Trier (1)
- Thuringia: Ilmenau (2), Jena (2), Weimar (1)
A university can also submit a joint application with other research institutions from one of the three federal states. The university submitting the application must take the lead.
State or non-profit research institutions in other federal states, foreign research institutions and non-profit non-research institutions may be involved to a maximum of 20 per cent.
Duration
The funding period is up to six years. The earliest possible project start date is 1 January 2026 and the project must start no later than 1 May 2026.
How to apply
Letters of intent and applications can only be submitted digitally via the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung's application portal. Registration is required for this.
Questions?
We offer Q&A rounds via Zoom on the following dates:
- Wednesday, 22 January 2025, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Monday, 17 February 2025, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Please register for the sessions here
