Newsroom

Type

Topics

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.

Learn more
viele nach oben gestreckte Daumen
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.

Learn more
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.

Learn more
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

Learn more
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.

Learn more
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.

Learn more

Our Focus

Grafik mit jungen Menschen, die politische Botschaften auf einer Demonstration von sich geben.
Democracy and Science
Bach vor einzelnen Häusern in weiter Landschaft, im Hintergrund hohe Berge
Global Engagement
Illustration mit drei Figuren, die Kommentare zu einer zentralen Darstellung mit Diagrammen machen
Transdisciplinariy
All Topics

Stories

Portrait einer Frau in einem weitläufigen Flur
Story 08 October 2025

Christina Roggatz: Science that makes waves

Marine scientist Dr Christina Roggatz from the University of Bremen is leading her own team for the first time – and through her work wants to arrive at a better understanding of climate change. Here she gives us an insight into her everyday life as leader of a junior research group.

Read article
Portrait eines Mannes
Story 09 July 2025

How does working with AI impact on research?

As a tool of science, artificial intelligence entails numerous risks, opportunities, and ambivalences. These need to be identified and classified. However, there is no revolution in sight, according to Jens Schröter.

Read article