CZS Wildcard

The CZS Wildcard Program, initiated by the Carl Zeiss Foundation, supports radically new, unconventional research approaches in the STEM disciplines and offers interdisciplinary consortia unprecedented freedom for risky ideas. In a two-stage selection process, the originality, unconventionality, and potential of the projects are particularly evaluated. Over a period of up to 24 months, teams of three to five scientists can receive financial support of up to €750,000 to test innovative concepts already at an early stage. Funding covers scientific and technical personnel, consumables, and capital expenditures – additionally, an overhead flat rate of 20% of the funding amount compensates institutional infrastructure costs.

The program is aimed at educational and public institutions nationwide that distinguish themselves through interdisciplinary cooperation. Consortia can submit applications at any time, as the call is continuously open. The focus is on creating research freedom that enables the pursuit of unusual hypotheses and experimental methods without predefined solutions. Applying teams benefit from the long-standing expertise of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of Germany’s oldest and largest private science foundations, while simultaneously contributing to the innovation dynamics in science and technology. The competition invites the advancement of ambitious projects in the STEM field and creates a platform for scientific exchange at the highest level.