Our Funding Portfolio
The Volkswagen Foundation is dedicated to the support of the humanities and social sciences as well as science and technology in higher education and research. It funds research projects in path-breaking areas and provides assistance to academic institutions for the improvement of the structural conditions for their work.
We provide support in four profile areas
Funding portfolio
We support future-oriented topics with our funding offers.
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NEXT – Rethink Neurodegeneration!
Learn moreThe programm is aimed at interdisciplinary research teams investigating the fundamental mechanisms of dementia-causing neurodegeneration.
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area of research: basic research in the natural and life sciences
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type of funding: interdisciplinary research projects with 2-5 PIs /Co-PIs (principal investigators)
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Theme Week 'Multiple Crises – Strained Resources'
Learn moreResearchers at universities and research institutions in Germany (optionally with international co-applicants) can apply with their symposium.
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area of research: Economics (social and cultural science if applicable)
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funding for: organization of a scientific symposium within a theme week from 15 to 17 April 2026
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Change! Fellowships
Learn moreOur target group: Personalities from science who are researching transformation processes jointly with non-academic partners.
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area of research: all disciplines
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funding for: own position
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Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives
Learn moreThe call addresses persons from science together with actors outside of academia who are interested in transdisciplinary research and aim at jointly developing new perspectives on democratic forms of government under change.
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area of research: humanities, cultural and social sciences (lead); cooperation with natural, life, data and technical sciences possible
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type of funding: task forces, collaborative projects
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Scoping Workshops
Learn moreThe Volkswagen Foundation’s scoping workshops are for scientists who want to take a step beyond their current research activities and think about the future of their field of research.
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area of research: all disciplines
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type of funding: workshops at the conference center Xplanatorium Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover
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AI Research Groups Lower Saxony
Website zukunft.niedersachsenAs a key technology, artificial intelligence is of central importance to Lower Saxony's research system. This call for proposals combines the objectives of promoting individual scientists with the further development of AI methods and their application to existing data sets.
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area of research: computer science, artificial intelligence, application disciplines
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type of funding: research groups
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Impetus for the German Science System: Strategic Experimental Spaces – University Development Requires Flexibility
Learn moreThe Foundation invites universities, in conjunction with the relevant ministries, to open and design experimental spaces to test new forms of cross-border or cross-institutional cooperation.
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type of funding: strategic projects
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aimed at: universities, ministries
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Researching Research: Summer Schools & Workshops
Learn moreThe program addresses scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds working on questions or topics relating to research on research.
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area of research: disciplines conducting research on research
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type of funding: summer schools and workshops
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