Peer review using the Distributed Peer Review (DPR) method

#Peer Review

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Since 2024, the Volkswagen Foundation has been experimenting with ‘Distributed Peer Review’, an evaluation method in which applicants evaluate each other. Here you will find all the important information about the procedure.

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In Brief

Guide for Funders Looking into Distributed Peer Review

#Peer Review

Distributed Peer Review (DPR) involves applicants reviewing each other's applications. The Research on Research Institute (RoRI) is evaluating this experiment, which the foundation has been conducting since 2024. This DPR guide is the result of this collaboration.

To DPR-guide for Funders
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In Brief

Distributed Peer Review (DPR): New findings on the review process

#Peer Review

Articles in the journals Science and Nature summarise recent experiences with the use of the innovative DPR method, which were presented at the Metascience 2025 conference in London.

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News

Distributed Peer Review (DPR) - how the Volkswagen Foundation works with it

#Peer Review

In our 'Open Up' funding initiative, we have been experimenting with 'distributed peer review' since 2024. Here is how the method works.

DPR - this is how it works
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Interview

Volkswagen Foundation experiments with new peer review method

#Peer Review

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.

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Funding Offer

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

The funding programme is aimed at project teams of two or three researchers who wish to work together to explore new research spaces in the humanities and cultural sciences. The foundation has been experimenting with the DPR method in this funding initiative since 2024.

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