Demonstrators in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin can be seen as well as a poster with the inscription "Defensive Democracy Now".
News 12 February 2024

Defend academic freedom!

In the following statement, the Volkswagen Foundation reaffirms its commitment to the protection of democracy and academic freedom.

viele hochgestreckte Daumen vor einer dunklen Schiefertafel
Interview 12 February 2024

Volkswagen Foundation experiments with new peer review method

In the current call of the funding initiative "Open Up – New Research Spaces for the Humanities and Cultural Studies", the foundation is testing a new review process for the first time: "Distributed Peer Review". In this interview, Dr. Hanna Denecke, team leader in the "Exploration" profile area, explains the experiment.

Woman on stage speaking into a microphone
News 15 November 2023

Ukraine aid: "A project for the post-war future"

The Volkswagen Foundation is funding the virtual Ukraine Institute for Advanced Study with almost one million euros. The opening and the first conference have now taken place in Berlin.

Demonstrators with "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" signs
Interview 20 July 2023

New funding offer: Democracies under change

In a two-part funding offer, the Foundation is looking for transdisciplinary project teams to draw up recommendations on how democracies must develop in order to master the multiplicity of societal challenges. Application deadline for 'task forces': Sept. 19, 2023

Gradient from light green to light blue
News 04 July 2023

status 2022 – Annual report of the Volkswagen Foundation

In 2022, the Volkswagen Foundation approved EUR 331,9 million for scientific projects. Figures, data and facts from our 2022 annual report.

several wooden cubes with symbols, including a light bulb and a doctor's hat, a cube with the inscription "Fördermittel" (funding)
Interview 03 July 2023

Incentive bonus of 10,000 euros for reviewers

Until June 30, 2024, researchers who participate in peer reviews for the Volkswagen Foundation can receive 10,000 euros in additional funding. Henrike Hartmann and Selahattin Danisman explain the unusual experiment.