Thematic Focus

Global Engagement

Bach vor einzelnen Häusern in weiter Landschaft, im Hintergrund hohe Berge

For decades, the Volkswagen Foundation has been providing regional funding, as for example here in the Central Asia/Caucasus region.

Global perspectives in science and science promotion are of central importance for the foundation. Our global engagement is enshrined in the foundation’s statutes and funding guidelines. We constantly adapt our international activities to the changing global context to achieve the best possible impact. 

We shape our global engagement in a goal-oriented, responsible and flexible manner! 

Our guideline for our global engagement

The Four Foci of Our Global Engagement

  • Foundation networks and partnerships
  • Global academic cooperations to build mutual trust
  • Competence building to deal with disruptive changes
  • An open, global discourse

   

Stories #Global Engagement

Frauen mit Kopftüchern sitzen an Tischen und haben Steinblöcke mit Inschriften vor sich liegen, die sie betrachten.
Story 26 February 2025

Archaeology as Reconstruction: Ancient Near Eastern Studies in Mosul

He came to Mosul with the task of excavating ancient Nineveh. In the meantime, however, the mission of the ancient orientalist Stefan Maul goes far beyond this: he is rebuilding the study of antiquity in Iraq. And he is teaching the people what the Islamists robbed them of: pride in their cultural heritage.

Zwei Hände halten einen grünen Sack mit Reishülsen
Story 10 September 2024

Affordable Water-Purification from Waste

Trained as a mechanical engineer, the Kampala-based researcher Peter W. Olupot has spent the last decade finding ways to produce affordable water purification systems using rice husks, a common byproduct of rice production.

Funding offers #Global Engagement

Many of our funding programmes have an international focus, the following is a current selection. You can find an overview of all our funding programmes under Our Funding Portfolio

  • Logo zukunft.niedersachsen
    Deadline: 02 March 2026 (1 p.m. CET)

    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: Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Sciences (call 2026)
    • type of funding: research projects
  • Illustration with a man sneezing, in the background various means of transport (e.g. aeroplane, train, lorry)
    No open call

    Transdisciplinary Approaches to Mobility and Global Health

    The call is directed at researchers from HICs and LMICs, in close collaboration with local communities, non-academic stakeholders and other relevant actors. It is jointly initiated by the three independent private foundations Novo Nordisk Foundation (Denmark), Wellcome (Great Britain) and Volkswagen Foundation.

    Learn more
    • areas of research: social sciences, life & health sciences
    • funding for: international collaborative projects
  • Logo zukunft.niedersachsen
    Deadline: summer 2026

    AI Research Groups Lower Saxony

    As 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. 

    Website zukunft.niedersachsen
    • area of research: computer science, artificial intelligence, application disciplines
    • type of funding: ​research groups​
  • Illustration with a man against a green background, spreading his arms in welcome
    Applications can be submitted at any time

    Transatlantic Bridge Professorships

    Funding programme for professors in the humanities and social sciences currently working in the USA who wish to work both in the USA and in Germany.

    Learn more
    • area of research: Humanities and Social Sciences
    • type of funding: Proportional financing of a professorship in Germany
  • Man with hands outstretched in welcome
    30 April 2026 Deadline
    Online Q&A: 12 February and 9 April 2026, 10:00 a.m.

    Navigating a Transforming World Order: Fellowships on Security and Technology

    We are looking for the security experts of the future: The call is aimed at young postdoctoral researchers who do research on the nexus of security and technology with a distinct European perspective.

    Learn more
    • area of research: all
    • type of funding: postdoctoral fellowships
  • Logo zukunft.niedersachsen
    Next deadline expected in summer 2026

    Lower Saxony – Scotland Research and Innovation Scheme: Stream II – Excellence Track

    ​The programme provides Lower Saxonian and Scottish higher education institutions and their researchers with an opportunity to conduct joint research to lay the foundation for successful third-party funding bids, in particular Horizon Europe.

    Website zukunft.niedersachsen.de
    • area of research: all topics, particularly energy (transformation), life sciences, educational sciences, mobility and its transformation as well as security policy
    • type of funding: cooperative research projects

News #Global Engagement

mehrere Personen stehen um einen flachen Bildschirm, auf dem eine in verschiedenen Farben eingefärbte Weltkarte zu sehen ist, dahinter steht ein Banner mit der Aufschrift "Index der Wissenschaftsfreiheit"
Interview 08 December 2025

'The question of social impact challenges science'

Illustration with a man against a green background, spreading his arms in welcome
Funding Offer 01 December 2025

Transatlantic Bridge Professorships

Eine Frau steht vor einem großen Plakat mit der Aufschrift "Falling Walls Science Summit"
Interview 11 November 2025

Breaking the Wall: Healthy Aging in Women

Frau hält eine rote Karte mit der Aufschrift "Which are the next walls to fall?"
In Brief 29 October 2025

The Volkswagen Foundation at Falling Walls 2025

Podiumsdiskussion mit sechs Teilnehmer:innen, die nebeneinander auf einer Bühne sitzen
Event Report 18 September 2025

Research as a bridge: Lower Saxony celebrates partnership with Israel

Das Bild zeigt einen Hörsaal mit Studierenden in den Reihen und einem Dozenten am Pult
Event Video 11 September 2025

Multiple Transformations and Current Crisis: Higher Education in the U.S. and Europe

Veranstaltungen #Global Engagement

  • Expert meeting
  • Symposium

19 Mar 2026, 10:00 a.m. - 21 Mar 2026, 03:00 p.m.

2nd International Conference on Individualized Infection Medicine

Learn more
A modern key visual symbolizing “Personalized Infectious Medicine” with a human silhouette, a virus, DNA and various molecules