CZS Nexus – Carl Zeiss Foundation

The CZS Nexus program of the Carl Zeiss Foundation is aimed at outstanding postdoctoral researchers working at a public university or non-university research institution in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, or Thuringia. Its goal is to support young scientists in establishing independent, interdisciplinary research groups at the interfaces between mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and engineering, and to strengthen their further careers. Funded are ambitious projects that impress through scientific excellence and high innovation content as well as through a successful integration of different STEM disciplines.

For a duration of 60 to 72 months, grants of up to €1,500,000 per junior research group are available, supplemented by an overhead allowance of 20% on the funding amount. Eligible costs include, among others, the position of the group leader, personnel costs for scientific and technical staff, investments in major equipment and research infrastructure, consumables, as well as funds for science communication, networking, and outreach activities. Relocation costs of the applicant may also be considered. Selection is carried out through a competitive procedure based on external reviews, with the focus not only on the project's innovativeness and interdisciplinarity but especially on the quality of the planned research group. The program thus offers comprehensive support to establish sustainable research structures at STEM interfaces and to promote early-career researchers in the long term.