Niedersächsisches Vorab

Objective

This funding initiative aims to strengthen the position of Lower Saxony as a science location. To this end, the Foundation statutes prescribe that a fixed proportion of the money available for grants is allocated to research institutions in the Federal State of Lower Saxony. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees decides how the funds are to be distributed, previously endorsed by the State Government of Lower Saxony.

Scope of Funding

The "Niedersächsisches Vorab" program is divided into six funding lines:

• Recruit & Retain

• Collaborative research units and research priorities

• New and emerging research fields

• Third-party funding for Lower Saxony

• The Excellence Initiative

• Research cooperation between Lower Saxony and Israel

All six funding lines are subject to special procedures for calls and selection processes determined by the Scientific Commission of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation. You can find further information on the funding lines and application procedures on the homepage of the Lower Saxony Ministry for Science and Culture. Applications for one of the currently open calls (see below) must be filed electronically via the electronic application system.

Call: Lower Saxony Professorship – 65 plus, Deadline: December 1 of each year

Excellent research knows no age limits. The funding initiative entitled "Lower Saxony Professorship – 65 plus" enables outstanding scholars and scientists to continue their research and teaching activities at universities in Lower Saxony beyond the normal retirement age. The program belongs to the funding line "Recruit & Retain".

Details of conditions and the application procedure can be found under Information for Applicants (pdf). Applications must be filed electronically via the electronic application system.

Call: Forschungsprofessuren (FH!)

Details of conditions and the application procedure can be found under "What Applicants Need to Know".

Please note: The last deadline for this call was March 15, 2013. Application is currently not possible.

Background

Pursuant to Article 8 Item 2 of its statutes, the Volkswagen Foundation finances "Niedersächsisches Vorab" from three different sources, namely i) a sum equivalent to the annual dividend on the nominal EUR 77.3 million of VW shares accruing to the Volkswagen Foundation from the Federal State of Lower Saxony’s participation in the Volkswagen automobile manufacturer ii) the yield from assets totaling EUR 35.8 million as laid down in a contract concluded with the State of Lower Saxony in 1987, and iii) 10% of the sum allocated for overall funding.