Research and Technology

Research and Technology

One step ahead of the future

Innovation and research are part of the DNA of ZEISS. That's because in a constantly changing world, society's needs also change. Our focus is therefore on developing solutions that offer added value, bring benefits and go beyond the ordinary. These characteristics have made ZEISS a world-leading technology company over the past 175 years.

Michelangelo Masini

As an important part of the global ZEISS team, we shape future markets through groundbreaking innovations and inspiring solutions. Our ambition is to promote an innovation- and process-driven approach at ZEISS.

Dr. Michelangelo Masini Head of Corporate Research & Technology

Research and development in figures

  • ≈ 7.000

    employees in research and development

  • 40

    research and development sites

  • 15%

    of revenues are invested in research and development

A long tradition of innovation at ZEISS

The strong innovative power of ZEISS can be felt in all of its business units. Since it was founded in 1846, the company has focused on pushing the limits of what is technically feasible and setting new standards in various industries.

The importance of patents and their contribution to developing pioneering products and technologies were recognized at an early stage. In 1893, the company applied for its first patent for a "twin telescope with enlarged lens distance". This laid the foundations for today's design of binoculars and paved the way for countless other innovations.

From idea to reality – real-life success stories

A multi-award-winning innovator

ZEISS has received numerous awards and prizes for its outstanding and innovative solutions. For example, the ZEISS Lattice Lightsheet 7 microscopy solution was awarded the Deutscher Zukunftspreis (German Future Prize) in 2022. This development is the first of its kind to enable the observation of living cells in real time and in 3D for hours and even days.

Turning today's research into tomorrow's applications

This is exactly what happens at the ZEISS Innovation Hubs, which, in addition to the 40 research sites, work on future-oriented technologies and investigate new approaches.

ZEISS Innovation Hub Dresden building

ZEISS Innovation Hub Dresden

Visit the site in Dresden – at the center of the campus of the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital in Dresden.

ZEISS Innovation Hub Dresden
Blasewitzer Straße 41
01307 Dresden, Germany

ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT building

ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT

Visit the national research center in the Helmholtz Association,it at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology's Nord Campus,

ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT
Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 6
76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

Promoting innovation

The only way to achieve genuine progress is through collaboration and sharing ideas. The company is therefore actively committed to promoting and driving innovations both inside and outside the company, whether through recognizing outstanding research, supporting scientific projects or encouraging the younger generation to take an interest in STEM subjects.

ZEISS Research Award

ZEISS Research Award

Since 1990, ZEISS has been recognizing outstanding achievements in international optical research through this award.

ZEISS Promotion Fund

Promotion Fund

ZEISS is committed to education and research through its funding from the ZEISS Promotion Fund.

Carl Zeiss Foundation

The main duties of the Carl Zeiss Foundation are to permanently secure the future of the two foundation companies and advance science.

A Heart for Science

ZEISS employees are pursuing the goal of inspiring the explorers of tomorrow to take an interest in the natural sciences through the international A Heart for Science initiative for the promotion of STEM.