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.
Funding portfolio
We support future-oriented topics with our funding offers.
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Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives
The call addresses persons from science and (civil) society 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, cooperation projects
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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
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type of funding: funding of a substitute professorship
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Theme Week "The (De)tabooing of Science and Research"
Researchers at universities and research institutions in Germany, optionally with intl. co-applicants, can apply for a scientific symposium.
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area of research: humanities, cultural and social sciences, life, health and technical sciences
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funding for: organisation of a scientific event (Hannover, September 17–19, 2025)
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Data Reuse – Additional Funding for the Preparation and Storage of Research Data (Open Science)
The funding offer aims at grantees of the Volkswagen Foundation, eligible are current projects and projects that have been funded approximately in the last 6 months.
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area of research: all
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funding for: preparation and storing of research data for its reuse
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zukunft.niedersachsen: Lower Saxony Professorship
The "Lower Saxony Professorship" addresses exceptional academics who are professionally excellent and have several years of (management) experience in the science system. They are expected to have the capacity to shape the profile and structure of their university location and impact the research region at large.
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area of research: all
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type of funding: professorship, additional resources
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Pioneer Projects – Impetus for the German Research System
The funding offer addresses active researchers who, in addition to their research activities, would like to explore a project idea for the further development (of a specific area) of the German research system, as well as academic administrators at universities and research institutions in Germany.
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area of research: all disciplines
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type of funding: Innovative pioneer projects aiming at improving the (German) research system
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Pioneering Research – Exploring the Unknown Unknown
The funding offer addresses outstanding post-doctoral researchers and professors universities and research institutes in Germany, international cooperation partners are possible.
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area of research: all disciplines
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up to 1.3 million Euro
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Researching Research: Summer Schools & Workshops
The 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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