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In einer Kunstaktion stehen Menschen auf einer Fibonacci-Folge auf der Wiese vor dem Reichstagsgebäude in Berlin
News 16 February 2024

From citizens' councils to feminism on TikTok – task forces investigate democracies in transition

Liberal democracy is a basic prerequisite for a scientific landscape with independent freedom of research. But how can we protect our democratic structures? And what dangers are they exposed to? Ten newly funded research projects are dedicated to these and other highly topical questions of democracy research.

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Demonstrators in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin can be seen as well as a poster with the inscription "Defensive Democracy Now".
News 12 February 2024

Defend academic freedom!

In the following statement, the Volkswagen Foundation reaffirms its commitment to the protection of democracy and academic freedom.

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viele nach oben gestreckte Daumen
Interview 12 February 2024

Volkswagen Foundation experiments with new peer review method

In the funding initiative "Open Up – New Research Spaces for the Humanities and Cultural Studies", the foundation is testing a new review process: "Distributed Peer Review". Dr. Hanna Denecke, team leader in the "Exploration" profile area, explains the experiment.

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Woman on stage speaking into a microphone
News 15 November 2023

Ukraine aid: "A project for the post-war future"

The Volkswagen Foundation is funding the virtual Ukraine Institute for Advanced Study with almost one million euros. The opening and the first conference have now taken place in Berlin.

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Demonstrators with "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" signs
Interview 20 July 2023

New funding offer: Democracies under change

In a two-part funding offer, the Foundation is looking for transdisciplinary project teams to draw up recommendations on how democracies must develop in order to master the multiplicity of societal challenges. Application deadline for 'task forces': Sept. 19, 2023

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Gradient from light green to light blue
News 04 July 2023

status 2022 – Annual report of the Volkswagen Foundation

In 2022, the Volkswagen Foundation approved EUR 331,9 million for scientific projects. Figures, data and facts from our 2022 annual report.

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Our Focus

Grafik mit jungen Menschen, die politische Botschaften auf einer Demonstration von sich geben.
Democracy and Science
Bach vor einzelnen Häusern in weiter Landschaft, im Hintergrund hohe Berge
Global Engagement
Illustration mit drei Figuren, die Kommentare zu einer zentralen Darstellung mit Diagrammen machen
Transdisciplinariy
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Stories

Portrait einer Frau in einem weitläufigen Flur
Story 08 October 2025

Christina Roggatz: Science That Makes Waves

Marine scientist Dr Christina Roggatz from the University of Bremen is leading her own team for the first time – and through her work wants to arrive at a better understanding of climate change. Here she gives us an insight into her everyday life as leader of a junior research group.

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Portrait eines Mannes
Story 09 July 2025

How does working with AI impact on research?

As a tool of science, artificial intelligence entails numerous risks, opportunities, and ambivalences. These need to be identified and classified. However, there is no revolution in sight, according to Jens Schröter.

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