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Corporate social responsibility and the promotion of innovation at ZEISS

Corporate Social Responsibility

Promotion by ZEISS
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ZEISS is known for scientific excellence, technological innovation and social responsibility. These values are firmly anchored in the company's history: even Ernst Abbe recognized that commercial success and social responsibility should be inextricably linked. With the founding of the Carl Zeiss Foundation in 1896, he laid the foundations for a business model that is still in effect today.

As a foundation-owned company, ZEISS views corporate social responsibility (CSR) as part of the company’s very fabric. The aim is to create value for society through the promotion of education as well as through social projects and a purposeful commitment to people and regions worldwide. Furthermore, ZEISS is extensively involved in funding research, innovation and scientific exchange.

Sponsorship from the Carl Zeiss Foundation

Carl Zeiss Foundation

ZEISS has a long history of promotion through the Carl Zeiss Foundation

Today, the Carl Zeiss Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science. The Foundation finances its non-profit activities from the dividends it receives from the foundation companies Carl Zeiss AG and SCHOTT AG. Since the end of 2021, the Foundation has also been specifically promoting the technical side of sustainability with the focus topic “Resource Efficiency”.
The focus of the Foundation's work is on promoting interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity, putting knowledge into practice, and anchoring resource efficiency and sustainable development in teaching.

Corporate social responsibility projects

The "A Heart for Science" initiative

A Heart for Science

Enthusiasm for nature and technology has always been an integral part of the ZEISS DNA. On the occasion of the company's 175th anniversary, ZEISS launched "A Heart for Science" – an international initiative that aims to get young people aged 12 to 18 interested in STEM. What is special about it is that employees can share their knowledge with the explorers of tomorrow.

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The ZEISS Promotion Fund

The ZEISS Promotion Fund

ZEISS has been funding educational measures, scientific projects and regional initiatives through the ZEISS Promotion Fund since 2011. The Promotion Fund includes the ZEISS Site Fund, which supports regional STEM projects for children and young people as well as projects in arts and culture, social affairs, amateur sports and the environment at company locations. The ZEISS Science Fund, by contrast, supports educational initiatives in science and engineering across Germany. Anyone who is interested can apply for funding.

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Gift of joy: Christmas activities

Activities by employees worldwide

Employees at ZEISS sites worldwide put a lot of effort into their involvement in social and charitable causes. For example the Gift of Joy, which helps people in need. ZEISS employees around the world have therefore given their time to help people in difficult situations, for example low-income families, patients on end-of-life care or children with visual impairments.

ZEISS employees at many sites also organize their own activities and initiatives to do their bit for a good cause. This includes bake sales, clothing donations and food drives. The initiatives come in many formats and generally aim to support local disadvantaged groups.

Earth Day in India

Earth Day

Protecting the environment and generating awareness for this topic – that is the goal of Earth Day, which is observed annually on 22 April. ZEISS employees regularly participate through activities such as community cleanups, beach cleans, tree planting and bird-house building. In 2025, over 400 ZEISS employees from 16 countries took part in 34 activities for Earth Day. Participation is expected to continue over the coming years.

Beyond Earth Day, ZEISS continues to do its bit to protect the environment and climate worldwide. For example, the company runs an ongoing project in India to make school furniture out of recycled materials.

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Funding activities by the strategic business units

Ophthalmology initiative

Improving medical care

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG's corporate social responsibility focuses on projects closely associated with the business unit's core areas – ophthalmology and microsurgery. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG supports programs to improve medical care in underserved regions, promotes the further education and training of specialists and provides state-of-the-art medical technology for diagnosis and treatment.

Access to ophthalmology

ZEISS Vision Care is committed to providing access to high-quality ophthalmology worldwide and specifically supports projects that offer long-term improvements to people's lives. From myopia management for children in the US to mobile eye clinics in Honduras through to vision care for underprivileged communities in India and Africa – ZEISS promotes initiatives that bring about real change.

ZEISS' nature observation cooperations

ZEISS' nature observation cooperations

ZEISS Photonics and Optics is involved in nature and wildlife conservation through cooperations and sponsorships. It lends its support to projects such as the scientific work for the Red List compiled by BirdLife International, projects with the Jordsand association as well as educational and research programs for the conservation of endangered species and birding, such as eBird.

Promoting innovation

ZEISS Innovation Hubs

ZEISS Innovation Hubs in Karlsruhe and Dresden

The ZEISS Innovation Hubs are known for groundbreaking technologies and pioneering research at their unique locations in the middle of flourishing innovation ecosystems. Here, employees are able to develop strong ideas, explore approaches and optimize them through feasibility studies. The result is highly innovative solutions that are used in ZEISS' own business units or help customers make the impossible possible.

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ZEISS Colloquium

Innovation Talk

From microbiomes to space debris, the ZEISS Colloquium Innovation Talks offer a platform for scientists to present their research in a one-hour talk followed by a discussion.

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Honors and awards

Honors and awards as important elements of ZEISS innovation promotion

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  • 1990

    ZEISS Research Award

    Since 1990, outstanding achievements have been honored in optical research every two years.
    Many award-winners have subsequently received other important distinctions e.g. four Carl Zeiss Research Award recipients have won the Nobel Prize.

  • 2003

    ZEISS Innovation Awards

    ZEISS honors innovative projects by its employees in five categories. A high-ranking jury of external and internal experts selects the award winners.

  • 2016

    Carl Zeiss Award for Young Researchers

    Since 2016, the Ernst Abbe Fund in the Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany has been presenting a research award with a new focus: the Carl Zeiss Award for Young Researchers – this is separate from the ZEISS Research Award.

  • 2020

    ZEISS Women Award

    The ZEISS Women Award creates an important platform to gain visibility for visionary women in the IT and digital industries and give them the recognition they deserve. Not only does this prize honor outstanding achievements, but it also inspires up-and-coming women and young girls to take up this career path. The award also provides an excellent opportunity for networking and exchange, through which valuable connections can be established and amazing ideas sparked.

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ZEISS and its Research Award

The ZEISS Research Award contributes to enhancing awareness of optics and photonics in science and technology. By supporting promising research projects, the award also promotes the development of innovative technologies.

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Emergency aid

ZEISS is actively involved in supporting situations requiring emergency aid. The company also makes financial contributions in crisis situations. As such, following the devastating floods in Spain, the earthquake in Japan, the massive flooding in southern Germany and the fires in Los Angeles, donations were made to help the affected communities and support the rebuilding of infrastructure. ZEISS employees also get actively involved in aid projects and initiatives. Through these initiatives, ZEISS demonstrates its responsibility toward society and plays a role in improving the lives of people who find themselves in emergency situations.