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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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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Night Science – Space for the Creative Mind
Learn moreThe funding programme is aimed at interdisciplinary tandems of two scientists who are open to unconventional approaches and have the desire to develop and implement innovative ideas for their research.
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area of research: Natural, Life and Engineering Sciences (excluding medical sciences)
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type of funding: Promotion of scientists’ creativity in tandems + obligatory support programme with three workshops
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Additional Funding for Science Communication
Learn moreThe offer is aimed at grantees currently receiving funding from the Volkswagen Foundation.
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all disciplines
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funding for: innovative measures for science communication
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Lower Saxony – Scotland Research and Innovation Scheme: Stream II – Excellence Track
Website zukunft.niedersachsen.deThe programme provides Lower Saxonian and Scottish higher education institutions and their researchers with an opportunity to conduct joint research to lay the foundation for successful third-party funding bids, in particular Horizon Europe.
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area of research: all topics, particularly energy (transformation), life sciences, educational sciences, mobility and its transformation as well as security policy
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type of funding: cooperative research projects
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NEXT – Rethink Neurodegeneration!
Learn moreThe programm is aimed at interdisciplinary research teams investigating the fundamental mechanisms of dementia-causing neurodegeneration.
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area of research: basic research in the natural and life sciences
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type of funding: interdisciplinary research projects with 2-5 PIs /Co-PIs (principal investigators)
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Change! Fellowships
Learn moreOur target group: Personalities from science who are researching transformation processes jointly with non-academic partners.
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area of research: all disciplines
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funding for: own position
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Theme Week 'Multiple Crises – Strained Resources'
Learn moreResearchers at universities and research institutions in Germany (optionally with international co-applicants) can apply with their symposium.
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area of research: Economics (social and cultural science if applicable)
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funding for: organization of a scientific symposium within a theme week from 15 to 17 April 2026
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Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives
Learn moreThe call addresses persons from science together with actors outside of academia 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, collaborative projects
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