Dublin, CA—Zeiss announced it completed construction of its R&D, production, sales as well as customer service site in the San Francisco Bay Area. Moreover, the Zeiss Innovation Center California brings together hundreds of Zeiss employees and key functions under one roof. Further, the facility represents a milestone in the optics and optoelectronics technology company’s international growth strategy.
“The new Zeiss Innovation Center harnesses our technological, research and customer services strengths in one of the world’s premier technology innovation locations,” said Dr. Christian Müller, chief financial officer, Zeiss Group.
“This long-term commitment to the Bay Area and the North American market strongly supports the development of exciting innovations that benefit our global customers; alongside new collaboration opportunities with our partners across academia, industry and local communities.”
Zeiss Innovation Center California
The $180 million investment in the high-tech site in Dublin is an integral part of Zeiss’s global strategy to expand its presence close to research centers and growth markets. Dublin is a fast-growing city near San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. The Zeiss Innovation Center’s R&D efforts will focus on digital solutions. It will also concentrate on scientific and industry partnerships spanning disciplines and technologies. These were key drivers behind the decision to locate the center in the Bay Area.
In addition, the Zeiss Innovation Center houses customer experience and demonstration centers showcasing recent Zeiss innovations. It also includes research laboratories as well as service and production facilities. What’s more, with engineers, researchers, and sales and service teams from across Zeiss located on the premises, global customers and partners will more fully benefit. 
The center also serves as the U.S. headquarters for the Zeiss medical technology business; it is bundled under the Frankfurt-listed company Carl Zeiss Meditec AG in which Zeiss holds the majority.
The new site also brings together the X-Ray Microscopy business and the Zeiss Microscopy Customer Center. As a result, it strengthens initiatives to realize growing market and R&D opportunities in materials research, life sciences and industrial applications. The colocation of the microscopy and ophthalmology businesses offers additional collaborative opportunities; this is true particularly in image processing, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Additionally, the Zeiss Process Control Solutions activities for the Zeiss Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology segment is based at the center.
Workplace Culture & Sustainability
The opening of the Zeiss Innovation Center coincides with the 175th anniversary of the Zeiss Group; it was founded in 1846 in Jena, Germany. Commemoration initiatives will spotlight the company’s commitment to open, unbiased and science-based problem-solving leading to technologies that benefit current and future generations. Consequently, the center will foster entrepreneurial ventures among Zeiss employees, research partners and customers in an open, team-oriented work environment. 
Moreover, the Zeiss Innovation Center in Dublin meets the highest green energy and sustainability standards. The building is powered by solar energy and supported by use-based light and air controls. It also has a heat recovery system. Sophisticated light and insulation technologies help regulate the indoor temperature.
In addition, Zeiss incorporated rainwater collection and retention, along with wetland enhancement and maintenance, into the exterior design. And to support commutes and help reduce traffic congestion and pollution, employees will have access to electric vehicle chargers, bike storage and carpool options.
The center accommodates approximately 700 workspaces. Zeiss will phase the move-in over the coming months in compliance with COVID-19 precautions as well as state and federal regulations.
