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

Androiden-Kopf mit technischen Geräten statt des Gehirns

Societal Transformations

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

Learn more
Kompass

Exploration

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

Learn more
Bücherstapel

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.

Learn more
hölzerner Schach-Springer (Pferd)

zukunft.niedersachsen

Funding program for top-level research in Lower Saxony.

Learn more

Funding portfolio

We support future-oriented topics with our funding offers.

Area of research

Type of funding

Sort by:
  • Logo zukunft.niedersachsen
    Deadline: 02 March 2026 (1 p.m. CET)

    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: Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Sciences (call 2026)
    • type of funding: research projects
  • Illustration with a group of protesting people
    Task forces: A modified call is expected to be published in autumn 2026.
    Collaborative projects: The funding line is currently being evaluated.

    Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives

    The programme 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.

    Learn more
    • areas of research: humanities, cultural and social sciences (lead); cooperation with natural, life, data and technical sciences possible
    • type of funding: task forces, cooperation projects
  • Illustration with two people pointing into the sky, and a teleskope
    The call is currently under review and will be republished in 2026.

    Pioneering Research – Exploring the Unknown Unknown

    The funding offer addresses outstanding post-doctoral researchers and professors universities and research institutes in Germany, international cooperation partners are possible.

    Learn more
    • area of research: all disciplines
    • up to 1.3 million Euro
  • Illustration with a person in a swirl of objects and materials that can be recycled
    No open call

    Circularity With Recycled and Biogenic Resources

    Funding is provided for interdisciplinary research projects closing raw material product cycles and for science communication on sustainable consumption.

    Learn more
    • area of research: natural sciences and engineering, if required social sciences
    • type of funding: research projects
  • Illustration with a man sneezing, in the background various means of transport (e.g. aeroplane, train, lorry)
    No open call

    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.

    Learn more
    • areas of research: social sciences, life & health sciences
    • funding for: international collaborative projects
  • Illustration of a person standing in front of an ancient steam engine powered by files and producing binary code
    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.

    Learn more
    • area of research: all
    • funding for: preparation and storing of research data for its reuse
  • Illustration with a man and a woman kissing a girl in their middle who is holding a dollar note
    No further call for proposals is currently planned

    Perspectives on Wealth

    The call is aimed at (inter-)national research consortia, collaborations with partners from LMICs are preferable, transdisciplinary consortia possible.

    Learn more
    • area of research: Humanities, cultural and social sciences, economics (lead); cooperations with natural, life, data and technical science possible
    • type of funding: (inter-)national cooperation projects with up to five partners
  • Logo zukunft.niedersachsen
    Next deadline expected in summer 2026

    Lower Saxony – Scotland Research and Innovation Scheme: Stream II – Excellence Track

    ​The 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.

    Website zukunft.niedersachsen.de
    • area of research: all topics, particularly energy (transformation), life sciences, educational sciences, mobility and its transformation as well as security policy
    • type of funding: cooperative research projects

Completed 

Here you can find our previous funding offers.

Learn more
Frau mit Kescher läuft über eine Wiese

Funded projects

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

visit Grants database

More