Our Funding Portfolio

Mehrere Personen mit unterschiedlichen Gegenständen, z. B. Molekülmodell, Globus, Gehirnmodell, Geige

The Volkswagen Foundation is dedicated to the support of the humanities and social sciences as well as science and technology in higher education and research. It funds research projects in path-breaking areas and provides assistance to academic institutions for the improvement of the structural conditions for their work. 

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Societal Transformations

Expanding knowledge about processes of transformation and developing possible courses of action together with stakeholders in civil society.

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Exploration

Breaking into previously unexplored research territory with unconventional ideas and experimental approaches.

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Understanding Research

Critically exploring and reflecting on the research system with a view to initiating positive change on areas such as career paths, governance, research and teaching.

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zukunft.niedersachsen

Funding program for top-level research in Lower Saxony.

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Funding portfolio

We focus our funding activities on selected initiatives. By means of these initiatives, we endeavor to provide effective stimuli for research and to establish forward-looking topics.

Area of research

Type of funding

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  • Apply anytime

    Data Reuse – Additional Funding for the Preparation and Storage of Research Data (Open Science)

    The funding offer aims at grantees of the Volkswagen Foundation, eligible are current projects and projects that have been funded approximately in the last 6 months.

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    • area of research: all
    • funding for: preparation and storing of research data for its reuse
  • September 14, 2023 Deadline for science communication projects (Please note: template was updated in July 2023)

    Additional Funding for Science Communication

    The offer is aimed at grantees currently receiving funding from the Volkswagen Foundation.

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    • all disciplines
    • funding for: innovative measures for science communication
  • October 11, 2023: Online Q&A session
    November 15, 2023 Deadline

    Earth System Sciences

    The offer is aimed at universities in Germany with a focus on geosciences that wish to establish one or two junior professorships with tenure track.

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    • area of research: Geosciences
    • funding for: 1-2 junior professorships with tenure track per University location
  • October 12, 2023 Deadline
    February 12, 2024 Deadline

    Scoping Workshops

    The Volkswagen Foundation’s scoping workshops are for scientists who want to take a step beyond their current research activities and think about the future of their field of research.

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    • area of research: all disciplines
    • type of funding: workshops at the conference center Xplanatorium Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover
  • Please note: application is closed
    06. bis 08.11.2023 Thematic week in Hannover

    Thematic week: Human rights in times of multiple challenges – perspectives from science and society

    Researchers at German universities and research institutions (all career stages after the doctorate) can apply.

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    • area of research: Humanities and social sciences
    • aimed at researchers at German universities/research institutes, possibly intl. co-applicants
  • November 17, 2023 Application networking workshop (for calls starting in autumn 2024)
    January 30, 2024 Application deadline 'Cooperation Projects'
    Online Q&A Sessions 'Cooperation Projects': Nov. 09, 2023 | Jan. 10, 2024

    Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives

    The call addresses persons from science and (civil) society who are interested in transdisciplinary research and aim at jointly developing new perspectives on democratic forms of government under change.

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    • area of research: humanities, cultural and social sciences (lead); cooperation with natural, life, data and technical sciences possible
    • type of funding: task forces, cooperation projects
  • February 01, 2024 Deadline

    Opus Magnum

    The funding offer is aimed at outstanding professors from the humanities and social sciences.

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    • area of research: humanities, cultural studies and social sciences
    • type of funding: funding of a substitute professorship
  • A new call for cooperation projects is planned for November 2023

    Perspectives on Wealth: The (Re-)Production of Wealth

    The call is aimed at (inter-)national research groups, inter- and transdisciplinary teams are possible.

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    • area of research: Humanities, cultural and social sciences (lead); Cooperation with natural, life, data and technical sciences possible
    • type of funding: cooperation projects (international/national; summer schools and workshops

Completed 

And these are our completed funding offers.

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