Our Funding Portfolio
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
Funding portfolio
We support future-oriented topics with our funding offers.
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Researching Research: Collaborative Research Projects
Learn moreThe funding scheme is aimed at scientists and scholars of all career stages from postdoc onwards who work on issues related to research on research. The Foundation promotes interdisciplinary, multi-method and internationally oriented research projects.
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area of research: disciplines conducting research on research
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type of funding: research projects | current call: 'Political influences on epistemic practice'
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Pioneer Projects – Impetus for the German Research System
Learn moreThe funding offer addresses active researchers who, in addition to their research activities, would like to explore a project idea for the further development (of a specific area) of the German research system, as well as academic administrators at universities and research institutions in Germany.
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area of research: all disciplines
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type of funding: Innovative pioneer projects aiming at improving the (German) research system
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Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives
Learn moreThe 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
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type of funding: task forces, cooperation projects
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Scoping Workshops
Learn moreThe 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
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type of funding: workshops at the conference center Xplanatorium Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover
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Theme Week '(Tackling) Loneliness'
Learn moreResearchers at German universities and research institutions can apply with their symposium.
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area of research: humanities, cultural and social sciences, life, health and technical sciences (STS, medicine, psychology, neuroscience)
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funding for: organisation of a scientific event, June 11 – 13, 2025
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zukunft.niedersachsen: Lower Saxony Impulse Professorship
Website zukunft.niedersachsen.deThe "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.
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area of research: all
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type of funding: additional equipment, if necessary a separate position
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NEXT – Quantum Biology
Learn moreThe 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
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funding for research projects
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Theme Week "The (De)tabooing of Science and Research"
Learn moreResearchers 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
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funding for: organisation of a scientific event (Hannover, September 17–19, 2025)
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