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News 13 September 2017

European Foundations Unite to Tackle Global Challenges

Three of Europe's biggest philanthropic foundations have joined together to award 5 million euros to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges of our time: Wellcome Trust, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and Volkswagen Foundation have funded six research groups from across Europe to drive action through cross-border collaboration.

News 19 June 2017

Global Challenges in Focus: European Foundations Generate Incentives for International Research

Climate, migration, global health – the funding initiative "Europe and Global Challenges" supported jointly by Volkswagen Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and Riksbankens Jubileumsfond grants a total amount of 5 million euro for cross-border interdisciplinary projects in the humanities and social sciences.
Graphic representation of a head in front of a wall of ones and zeros.
Event Report 31 May 2017

Herrenhausen Conference "Society Through the Lens of the Digital"

Experts discussed how the humanities and social sciences deal with the social challenges of digitization at the Herrenhausen Conference in Hanover which took place from May 31 till June 2, 2017.

Blaumeise auf einem Ast
News 15 May 2017

Study on blue tits: Smell first, and then beg

Nestling blue tits can discriminate between the smell of other nestlings and adapt their begging behaviour accordingly. This is the outcome of the latest study by Freigeist-Fellow Dr. Barbara Caspers and Dr. Peter Korsten from Bielefeld University.

Historical photograph of men standing by a cannon located in a trench.
Event Report 08 May 2017

Herrenhausen Symposium "The Long End of the First World War: Ruptures, Continuities and Memories"

The Herrenhausen Symposium "The Long End of the First World War: Ruptures, Continuities and Memories" questioned the idea of a static and clearly defined "end" of the War.

News 21 March 2017

UNLEASH Innovation Lab 2017: Volkswagen Foundation Supports Junior Scientists

Apply now: From August 13 to 21, 2017, the UNLEASH initiative brings together young talents from science, technology and business who are working on topics related to the SDGs of the United Nations. The Volkswagen Foundation is a partner of the initiative and supports young researchers who are funded by the Foundation.

Stories

Mehrere Personen sitzen zusammen, eine Frau erzählt etwas, ein Mann tippt dabei an einem Laptop. Im Hintergrund sind Bananenpflanzen und ein Dschungel-Wald zu sehen.
Story 27 May 2026

A Pharmacy From the Rainforest: Remedies for the Mind

Fabien Schultz is searching for natural materials that can be used to treat mental health conditions. To this end, he is working with indigenous communities in Uganda and Tanzania – and with monkeys.

Portrait eines Mannes
Story 26 March 2026

Hybrid Computers Made of Nerves and Fibre Optics

Wolfram Pernice is researching how computers based on neural networks could in future compute even faster and more efficiently – using light instead of electronics. And real nerves instead of optical fibres.

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