CZS Wildcard: Programme to encourage unconventional ideas

With this call for proposals, the Carl Zeiss Foundation is enabling interdisciplinary research groups to pursue a shared idea over a period of two years. The scientists who are involved are given maximum freedom.

Detailed information:

Focus topic: STEM
Programme: CZS Wildcard
Target groups: Junior research group leaders
Professors
Postdocs
Funding budget: 750.000 €
Full proposal deadline: 08.05.2023

Goals

The application must describe an unconventional and interdisciplinary research project in natural sciences, life sciences and/or engineering sciences (STEM fields) that will be pursued during the funding period. Projects that are at a very early stage of deliberation, without the usual preliminary work, are also expressly welcome. If the project does not achieve the expected goals, its results also lead to knowledge discovery. Therefore, failure for reasons of content is impossible.

What are the application requirement specifications?

The measure being applied for must address an interdisciplinary research project in natural sciences, life sciences and/or engineering sciences (STEM fields). Applications for funding must be submitted by consortia of at least three scientists.

Who is eligible to apply?

The application is submitted by one scientist on behalf of the consortium. The applicant scientist must be employed at one of the following universities in the Carl Zeiss Foundation's funding states:

  • in Baden-Württemberg: Universities: Freiburg, Heidelberg, Hohenheim, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Konstanz, Mannheim, Stuttgart, Tübingen, Ulm
    Universities of applied sciences: Aalen, Albstadt-Sigmaringen, Biberach, Esslingen, Furtwangen, Heilbronn, Karlsruhe, HTWG Konstanz, Mannheim, Nürtingen-Geislingen, Offenburg, Pforzheim, Ravensburg-Weingarten, Reutlingen, Rottenburg, HfT Stuttgart, Ulm
  • Rhineland-Palatinate: Universities: Kaiserslautern, Koblenz-Landau, Mainz, Trier
    Universities of applied sciences: Bingen, Kaiserslautern, Koblenz, Mainz, Trier, Worms
  • Thuringia: Universities: Erfurt, Ilmenau, Jena, Weimar
    Universities of applied sciences: Erfurt, Jena, Nordhausen, Schmalkalden

Up to 1/3 of the scientists participating in the consortium may be (1) employed at a non-university institution or (2) employed at a university or non-university institution outside the CZS funding states or abroad. The applicants may therefore come from the same university or cooperate with scientists from other universities or non-university research institutes in the funding states, in another federal state or abroad.

Funding period

The funding period is two years. The earliest possible project start date is 1 December 2023 and the project must start no later than 1 February 2024. 

Administration Point

Dr. Phil-Alan Gärtig

Program Manager

Phone: +49 (0)711 - 162213 - 10

E-mail: phil-alan.gaertig@carl-zeiss-stiftung.de