Newsroom

Illustration with two people next to a telescope pointing at the sky
Funding Offer 15 August 2024

Pioneer Projects – Impetus for the German Research System

The Volkswagen Foundation wants to offer experimental spaces for fundamental innovations and significant improvements in all areas of the (German) research system. To this end, the Foundation will fund promising ideas for pioneer projects from the academic community. Deadline for draft proposals: October 15, 2024

Illustration mit einem Mann, der durch eine Lupe ein Modell der Erde betrachtet
Funding Offer 10 July 2024

Earth System Sciences (completed)

Universities in Germany with a geoscience focus can apply for one to two junior tenure-track professorships. Deadline is Nov. 15, 2023. 

Illustration mit mehreren Personen in Diskussion, im Vordergrund ein klassizistisches Schloss
Funding Offer 18 June 2024

Theme Week '(Tackling) Loneliness' (completed)

Apply now with your symposium: The aim of the (Tackling) Loneliness theme week is to explore loneliness and social isolation from a holistic, interdisciplinary and intersectional perspective and to propose solutions for more togetherness. Deadline: October 29, 2024

Illustration mit mehreren Menschen in Diskussion, im Vordergrund ein klassizistisches Schloss
Funding Offer 04 May 2024

Themed Week 'Digital Competences in Science' (completed)

Apply now with your symposium: With a themed week in December 2024, the Volkswagen Foundation would like to contribute to making ideas and initiatives on digital competences in science more visible and to promote interdisciplinary and supra-regional exchange. The themed week is primarily aimed at applicants from core facilities, science management, libraries, technical services and administration. Deadline: May 7, 2024

Illustration mit mehreren Personen in einer Diskussionsrunde, im Vordergrund ein klassizistisches Schloss
Funding Offer 12 March 2024

Themed week on water between extremes (completed)

Apply now with your symposium: Our themed week on water between the extremes will take place from October 9 to 11, 2024 in Hannover. Deadline for application is March 12, 2024

Funding Offer 26 January 2024

zukunft.niedersachsen: Innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to combat rare diseases (completed)

The new funding offer within the framework of zukunft.niedersachsen is aimed at professors and postdocs at universities and non-university research institutions in Lower Saxony. Funding is available for collaborative and individual projects on innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to combat rare diseases.

Stories

Foto einer einzelnen Manganknolle
Story 15 July 2026

Manganese Nodules and Microorganisms: Life Fuelled by Radioactivity?

Radioactivity is generally considered harmful to life. Yet in manganese nodules in the deep sea, microorganisms might benefit from it. Or even live off it? This is the intriguing hypothesis that geoscientist Walter Geibert hopes to prove.

Satellitenansicht der Innertropischen Konvergenzzone
Story 09 June 2026

Climate Research Using Old Ship’s Logs: the Wind Leaves no Trace on the Sea

Did a volcanic eruption in 1783 shift the tropical rain belt? Old ship’s logs could provide the answer – and also shed light on the future climate for millions of people living around the equator.

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