The ZEISS
Women Award 2025

The award ceremony of the ZEISS Women Award 2025 will take place on October 8, 2025, in Munich for invited guests. There will also be a virtual livestream, the link to the stream will be provided on this page before the event.

Applications in one of the three categories - Digital Research, Digital Entrepreneurship and Digital Social Impact - are open to women who have or will complete a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree between 01.08.2024 – 31.07.2025.

The ZEISS Women Award 2025 is only open to graduates who have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree between 01.08.2024 – 31.07.2025. If you graduate after 31.07.2025, you may be eligible to apply for the Women Award 2026.

The application conditions are clearly defined and can be found at the top of this website. Fulfillment of the conditions is a prerequisite for participation in the application process.

The ZEISS Women Award 2025 accepts applications in English only. However, documents in German will be accepted in exceptional cases if they cannot be (easily) translated by the issuing companies or authorities.

The application period ends on July 27, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

The ZEISS Women Award can only be applied for as an individual. The award is intended to honor and recognize pioneers, visionaries and initiators who, through their commitment, create visibility for women in the digital and IT field and act as role models. Applications from groups will not be considered.

Do you fulfill the conditions of participation and does your project, research work or initiative contribute to one of the three categories? Then nothing stands in your way to apply! Click on the corresponding application link in your category and submit all your application documents. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you!

Digital Research
Digital Entrepreneurship
Digital Social Impact

A list of the required application documents can be found at the top of this website. Additional documents specific to each category are available in the applicant portal, accessible via the respective ‘Apply Now’ button. These may include, for example, proof of publication, evidence of leadership contributions, key business metrics, or supporting materials such as awards, case studies, technical drawings, or patents. To ensure a thorough evaluation and allow for fair comparison, we encourage applicants to provide a comprehensive selection of their work.

Unfortunately, an application in several categories is not permitted.

The three award categories are very broadly defined. The scope of the categories is intended as a guide for your application - at the same time, of course, we know that not every project can always be assigned to just one category. If none of the categories seem to fit - don't worry! Send us your application in the category that best suits you and your project. As part of the evaluation process, we will analyze your application in detail. If, in individual cases, we see a better chance for you in another category, we will contact you and reserve the right to reassign your application.

We want to get to know your project and the impact of your work as precisely as possible! The abstract of your project/research work or initiative helps us to do this. It should illustrate the innovative character and impact of your work and be comprehensible to people outside the field. The description of your abstract can, for example, relate to the following questions:
• What is the overarching vision for your innovation?
• What problem are you addressing/solving?
• How does your product, service, or idea provide a solution?
• Who are your target users or customers? Describe who will benefit the most and why they need it.
• What sets your idea apart from others?
Category-specific guiding questions to help shape your abstract can be found in the applicant portal, accessible via the ‘Apply Now’ button. Please ensure that your abstract does not exceed two DIN A4 pages in length.

We want to get to know your project and the motivation behind it as precisely as possible! The motive description should share your personal intrinsic motivation behind the project in a personal message and also be comprehensible to people outside the field. The description of your motivation can, for example, relate to the following questions:
• Who or what inspired the development of your idea?
• What do you hope to achieve in the long term?
• Why does this idea hold personal or professional significance to you?
• The impact or change you hope your work will contribute to.
Category-specific guiding questions to help shape your abstract can be found in the applicant portal, accessible via the ‘Apply Now’ button. Please ensure that your abstract does not exceed one DIN A4 page in length.

The aim of the ZEISS Women Award is to recognize women who make/have made a valuable contribution to the digital and IT environment through their work or research and who really go the extra mile. In order to differentiate and distinguish this special commitment and extraordinary effort from regular project work, it must be made transparent by providing evidence. Show us your extra mile!

Unfortunately, this is not possible. Please check your application carefully, including all attachments, before sending the documents to us. Submitted applications can no longer be changed.

The first-place winner in each category will receive the ZEISS Women Award and a prize of €5,000.

The application period is open from 16.05.2025 - 26.07.2025. During this period, the applications will undergo a thorough review by several experts. During the week of 28.07.2025 - 01.08.2025, a final selection will be made resulting in the top applicants for each category.
On the week commencing 04.08.2025, the top applicants will be notified and invited to a virtual interview scheduled for the week commencing 11.08.2025. These interviews will result in the nominees per category, who will be presented to our expert jury.
The winners will be announced at the award ceremony on October 8, 2025, in Munich.

There are several contributing factors that determine the decision of the experts and jury, including innovation, integrity, effectiveness, long-term real-world success, leadership skills and more.
Additional category-specific criteria may also apply.

After the initial screening and review process, the top applications will undergo an interview process, which will result in the nominees for each category. The nominees will be informed and invited to the award ceremony on October 8, 2025, in Munich, where the winner will be announced.

All submitted applications will be checked by us upon receipt for compliance with the conditions of participation and formal completeness. After this, the selection process will start. Candidates who make it onto the shortlist will be contacted by us and informed about the next steps. We ask for your understanding that we cannot provide a status update during the application and selection process.

The award is organized and sponsored by ZEISS.

Feel free to contact us at any time at womenaward.de@zeiss.com.