Press Release

ZEISS donates prize money of 50,000 euros to school project in India and a STEM high school in Bad Saulgau

24 July 2025 ยท 5 min read
  • ZEISS SMT, together with TRUMPF, won the highly recognized "Werner von Siemens Ring" in December 2024.
  • The prize money of 50,000 euros will be donated to two educational projects: a school project in Bengaluru, India, and the STEM excellence high school in Bad Saulgau, Germany.
  • The donations support both regional and international educational infrastructure and the promotion of young people.
  • As a foundation-owned company, social commitment and responsibility have a long tradition at ZEISS.
Oberkochen, Germany | July 24, 2025 |ย ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology

ZEISS is supporting two educational projects with a donation of 50,000 euros: a school project in Bengaluru, India, and the STEM excellence high school with boarding facilities in Bad Saulgau, Germany. This donation was made possible through the prize money from the "Werner von Siemens Ring". This award was received by the development teams of the ZEISS segment Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (SMT) and TRUMPF in December 2024 for their pioneering work in High-NA-EUV lithography. Dr. Peter Kรผrz (ZEISS) and Dr. Michael Kรถsters (TRUMPF) accepted the prize of 100,00 euros on behalf of their teams.

Manoj Sharma at a school near the ZEISS India location in Bengaluru talking with pupils


Manoj Sharma, Head of Supply Chain & Business Processes at ZEISS India, is part of the India initiative by ZEISS employees, who are actively involved in various environmental protection and community projects on-site โ€“ as shown in the picture, including a school near the ZEISS India location in Bengaluru.

In the spirit of social responsibility and commitment to education, ZEISS has decided to donate the pro rata prize money of 50,000 euros to two educational projects: 25,000 euros are donated to an initiative of ZEISS employees in Bengaluru, India. This includes a school project where urgently needed seating is made from old delivery crates from ZEISS, another project focuses on improving food security locally. Manoj Sharma, Head of Supply Chain & Business Processes at ZEISS India, is part of this initiative and emphasizes, "Acting together and supporting each other is the key to sustainable change."

Another 25,000 euros go to the STEM excellence high school with boarding facilities in Bad Saulgau, Germany. The educational facility, which will open in the 2026/27 school year, is based on a collaboration between schools, research centers, and companies. As part of this, ZEISS, as a member of the newly established school's support association, plays a key role in promoting this educational initiative.

Dr. Peter Kรผrz, Head of Field of Business High-NA-EUV Technology at ZEISS SMT, explains: "Together with our partners from ZEISS, we won the 'Werner von Siemens Ring' โ€“ it was an absolute team effort. It is important to us to use the prize money specifically for education and STEM promotion, both regionally and internationally. Our goal is to make it easier for young people to access education and science and to inspire them at an early age with technology and natural sciences. These donations underscore our strong commitment to achieve this."

Portrait of Jeannine Rapp
Press Contact Jeannine Rapp Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
Portrait of Jeannine Rapp
Press Contact Jeannine Rapp Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology company in the optics and optoelectronics industry. The ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling around 11 billion euros in its four segments Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (updated: 30 September 2024).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces, and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for life sciences and materials research, as well as medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Industry 4.0 as well as a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping technological progress and, through its solutions, is extending the horizon of the world of optics and associated areas. ZEISS' significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 14% of its revenue in research and development work โ€“ ZEISS has a long tradition of high expenditure in these areas. This also represents the company's investment in the future.

With more than 46,555 employees, ZEISS operates in around 50 countries with more than 60 sales and service sites, 40 research and development sites and 35 production sites worldwide (as of 31 March 2025). The headquarters of the company, which was founded in Jena in 1846, is located in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of Germanyโ€™s largest foundations committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information at www.zeiss.com

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Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology

With its product portfolio and expertise, the Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology segment of ZEISS covers a variety of key processes in the production of microchips. Its products include semiconductor manufacturing optics โ€“ notably lithography optics โ€“ as well as photomask systems and process control solutions for semiconductor manufacturing. Thanks to ZEISS technology, microchips are becoming increasingly smaller, more powerful, more energy-efficient and more affordable. The electronic applications of these ongoing enhancements enable global progress in many disciplines such as technology, electronics, communication, entertainment, mobility and energy. Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology is headquartered in Oberkochen.ย Other sites include Jena, Rossdorf, Wetzlar, Aachen and Coswig (Germany), Zurich (Switzerland), as well as Bar Lev (Israel) and Dublin, CA (USA). ZEISS SMT also operates various sales and service sites in the US, China, Taiwan (region), South Korea and Japan.

Press Photos

  • Donation to school project

    Manoj Sharma, Head of Supply Chain & Business Processes at ZEISS India, is part of the India initiative by ZEISS employees, who are actively involved in various environmental protection and community projects on-site โ€“ as shown in the picture, including a school near the ZEISS India location in Bengaluru.

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