Our Funding Portfolio

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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. 

We provide support in four profile areas

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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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Funding program for top-level research in Lower Saxony.

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Funding portfolio

We support future-oriented topics with our funding offers.

Area of research

Type of funding

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  • February 11, 2025 Deadline (Please note: Application will not be possible until mid-January 2025.)

    NEXT – Quantum Biology

    The funding programme is aimed at interdisciplinary project teams; postdoctoral researchers and professors at universities and other research institutions in Germany can apply. International collaborations are possible.

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    • area of research: natural and life sciences
    • funding for research projects
  • February 11, 2025 Deadline (Please note: Application will not be possible until mid-January 2025.)

    Theme Week "The (De)tabooing of Science and Research"

    Researchers at  universities and research institutions in Germany, optionally with intl. co-applicants, can apply for a scientific symposium.

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    • area of research: humanities, cultural and social sciences, life, health and technical sciences
    • funding for: organisation of a scientific event (Hannover, September 17–19, 2025)
  • March 2025: Deadline for full proposals (phase 2)

    Transdisciplinary Approaches to Mobility and Global Health

    The call is directed at researchers from HICs and LMICs, in close collaboration with local communities, non-academic stakeholders and other relevant actors. It is jointly initiated by the three independent private foundations Novo Nordisk Foundation (Denmark), Wellcome (Great Britain) and Volkswagen Foundation.

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    • areas of research: social sciences, life & health sciences
    • funding for: international collaborative projects
  • Deadline: March 31, 2025 (12 pm CET, life sciences and medicine)

    zukunft.niedersachsen: Research Cooperation Lower Saxony – Israel

    Funding is provided for scientifically outstanding projects conducted jointly by researchers from Israel and Lower Saxony. 

    Website zukunft.niedersachsen.de
    • area of research: life sciences and medicine (call 2025)
    • type of funding: research projects
  • April 01, 2025 Deadline (Please note: Application will not be possible until mid-January 2025.)

    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
  • Online Q&A on Feb. 12 (in German) and Feb. 20 (in English)
    April 28, 2025 Deadline (Please note: Application will not be possible until mid-January 2025.)
    further deadline: April 21, 2026

    Momentum – Funding for Recently Tenured Professors

    The funding offer is aimed at professors three to five years after taking up their first tenured professorship at a university in Germany.

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    • area of research: all disciplines
    • type of funding: concepts for the broadening of perspectives
  • June 17, 2025 Deadline (Please note: Application will not be possible until mid-January 2025.)

    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
  • June 01, 2025 Deadline (Please note: Application will not be possible until mid-January 2025)

    zukunft.niedersachsen: Lower Saxony Impulse Professorship

    The "Lower Saxony Impulse Professorship" addresses academics approaching the end of their early career phase up to a maximum of ten years after completing their doctorate.

    Website zukunft.niedersachsen.de
    • area of research: all
    • type of funding: additional equipment, if necessary a separate position

Completed 

Here you can find our previous funding offers.

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Funded projects

Our "Grants Database" informs on research projects and researchers who received funds by the Volkswagen Foundation (since 2004).

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