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

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Societal Transformations

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

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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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hölzerner Schach-Springer (Pferd)

zukunft.niedersachsen

Funding programme for top-level research in Lower Saxony.

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Funding portfolio

We support future-oriented topics with our funding offers.

Area of research

Type of funding

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  • Illustration with a woman in a hard hat and a building plan in front of an advertising pillar
    next deadline for Fellowships in 2027
    Research Groups: No further calls

    Change! Fellowships

    Our target group: Personalities from science who are researching transformation processes jointly with non-academic partners.

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    • area of research: all disciplines
    • funding for: own position
  • Ein klassizistisches Gebäude mit Aufschrift "Scientia" wächst aus einer Weltkugel, "gegossen" mit Herzen, die aus einer Gießkanne tropfen
    The next deadline is expected for mid-2027

    Researching Research: Strengthening University Centres

    The funding offer is aimed at established centres, institutes or research priority areas for Science Studies at universities in Germany that have been institutionalised in recent years and are striving for further structural development. 

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    • area of research: science studies
    • type of funding: funds for structural measures
  • Logo zukunft.niedersachsen
    Deadline: expected in early summer 2027

    zukunft.niedersachsen: Research Cooperation Lower Saxony – Israel

    Funding is provided for scientifically outstanding projects conducted jointly by researchers from Israel and Lower Saxony. 

    Website zukunft.niedersachsen.de
    • area of research: Humanities and Social Sciences (call 2027)
    • type of funding: research projects
  • Logo zukunft.niedersachsen
    Deadline scheduled for summer 2027

    zukunft.niedersachsen: Boost Research! Seed Grants for Lower Saxony

    This funding programme offers researchers the opportunity to receive seed funding for novel collaborative projects. The aim is to use the funding to enable the acquisition of additional third-party funding.

    Website zukunft.niedersachsen.de
  • Illustration with two people pointing into the sky, and a teleskope
    No open call

    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
    • type of funding: visionary projects from the field of basic research
  • Illustration mit zwei Personen, die sich hinter einem Aktenstapel abklatschen, darüber fliegt eine Rakete, auf der eine Schnecke sitzt
    No open call

    Impetus for the German Science System: Strategic Experimental Spaces – University Development Requires Flexibility

    The 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
    • aimed at: universities, ministries
  • Illustration of a person standing in front of an ancient steam engine powered by files and producing binary code
    Apply anytime

    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
    • funding for: preparation and storing of research data for its reuse
  • Logo zukunft.niedersachsen
    Application at any time after consultation with the Volkswagen Foundation

    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.

    Website zukunft.niedersachsen.de
    • area of research: all
    • type of funding: professorship, additional resources

Completed 

Here you can find our previous funding offers.

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Funded projects

Our "Grants Database" informs on research projects and researchers who received funds by the Volkswagen Foundation (since 2004).

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