Our Funding Portfolio

Mehrere Personen mit unterschiedlichen Gegenständen, z. B. Molekülmodell, Globus, Gehirnmodell, Geige

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. 

humanoider Kopf einer Maschine

Societal Transformations

Expanding knowledge about processes of transformation and developing possible courses of action together with stakeholders in civil society.

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Hand mit Kompass

Exploration

Breaking into previously unexplored research territory with unconventional ideas and experimental approaches.

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Bücherstapel

Understanding Research

Critically exploring and reflecting on the research system with a view to initiating positive change on areas such as career paths, governance, research and teaching.

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Schachfigur "Pferd"

zukunft.niedersachsen

Funding program for top-level research in Lower Saxony.

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Funding portfolio

We focus our funding activities on selected initiatives. By means of these initiatives, we endeavor to provide effective stimuli for research and to establish forward-looking topics.

Area of research

Type of funding

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  • July 17, 2023 Application deadline for summerschools
    A new call for cooperation projects is planned for summer 2023

    Perspectives on Wealth: The (Re-)Production of Wealth

    The call is aimed at (inter-)national research groups, inter- and transdisciplinary teams are possible.

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    • area of research: Humanities, cultural and social sciences (lead); Cooperation with natural, life, data and technical sciences possible
    • type of funding: cooperation projects (international/national; summer schools and workshops
  • November 15, 2023 Deadline

    Earth System Sciences

    The offer is aimed at universities in Germany with a focus on geosciences that wish to establish one or two junior professorships with tenure track.

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    • area of research: Geosciences
    • funding for: 1-2 junior professorships with tenure track per University location
  • March 01, 2024 Deadline for collaborative projects

    Circularity with recycled and biogenic resources

    The current call within the funding line 'Collaborative projects' of this initiative is primarily targeted at the natural sciences and engineering.

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    • area of research: natural sciences, engineering
    • type of funding: research projects
  • Deadline was March 13, 2023

    Open Up – New Research Spaces for the Humanities and Cultural Studies

    The funding initiative addresses teams of two or three researchers who aim to explore new and original research spaces.

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    • area of research: humanities and cultural studies, theoretical social sciences
    • type of funding: research projects; funding of a teaching substitute
  • June 01, 2023 Deadline for workshop registration
    September 14, 2023 Deadline for science communication projects

    Additional Funding for Science Communication

    The offer is aimed at grantees currently receiving funding from the Volkswagen Foundation.

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    • all disciplines
    • funding for: innovative measures for science communication
  • Next deadline is expected in summer 2024

    Researching Research: Collaborative Research Projects

    The funding scheme is aimed at scientists and scholars of all career stages from postdoc onwards who work on issues related to research on research. The Foundation promotes interdisciplinary, multi-method and internationally oriented research projects.

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    • area of research: disciplines conducting research on research
    • type of funding: research projects
  • February 01, 2023 Deadline

    Opus Magnum

    The funding offer is aimed at outstanding professors from the humanities and social sciences.

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    • area of research: humanities, cultural studies and social sciences
    • type of funding: funding of a substitute professorship
  • Currently no application possible

    Challenges and Potentials for Europe: Intergenerational Futures

    The call "Challenges and Potentials for Europe: Intergenerational Futures" is aimed at international research groups from the social sciences, cultural studies and humanities. 

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Frau hält Hände zum Stop-"T"

Completed 

And these are our completed funding offers.

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