Democracies under pressure: 14 million euros to research how to overcome the crisis
The foundation has brought together researchers from the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences, as well as practitioners from outside academia, to develop new ideas and solutions for making democracies more resilient.
Changing society for the better: 28 million euros for transformative research projects
Positive change is needed for a society worth living in. With "Change!", the Foundation is funding 17 projects that combine research and practical knowledge with 28 million euros – from educational equity and coastal research to AI in law enforcement.
Our new user-optimised funding platform is now available! You can use it to submit applications and access all important information and documents related to our funding initiatives.
In her research, she explores the importance of diversity in microbial communities. As a mentor, Sarahi Garcia encourages early career researchers to embrace diversity in the academic world.
Second round for a special experiment: Anyone who reviews on behalf of the Volkswagen Foundation until December 31, 2025 will be entered into a draw and may win €10,000 in funding.
Researching Research: "There is still considerable potential!"
The "Researching Research" funding initiative strengthens interdisciplinarity and internationalisation in the field – and is also intended to generate policy recommendations for policy-makers. An interview with the programme manager Johanna Brumberg.
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.
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.
