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. 

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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  • 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
  • April 02, 2025 Deadline for fellows (early career researchers)
    Next deadline for research groups (senior scientists) expected in the 2nd half of 2025
    Online-Q&A: Jan. 31, 9-10 AM and Feb. 19, 1-2 PM

    Change! Fellowships

    Our target group: Personalities from science who are researching transformation processes jointly with non-academic partners.

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    • area of research: all disciplines
    • funding for: own position, research project
  • next deadline in 2025/2026

    Circularity with recycled and biogenic resources

    The current call within the funding line 'Collaborative projects' of this initiative is primarily targeted at the natural sciences and engineering.

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    • area of research: natural sciences and engineering, if required social sciences
    • type of funding: research projects
  • 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
  • Online Q&A on Feb. 12 (in German) and Feb. 20 (in English)
    April 28, 2025 Deadline
    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
  • February 11, 2025 Deadline

    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
  • Online Q&A: Feb. 21 (German) and Feb. 28 (English), 2025, 10-11:30 AM (no registration required)
    April 03, 2025 Deadline

    Open Up – New Research Spaces for the Humanities and Cultural Studies

    The funding initiative addresses teams of two or three researchers who aim to explore new and original research spaces.

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    • area of research: humanities and cultural studies, theoretical social sciences
    • type of funding: research projects; funding of a teaching substitute
  • November 04, 2025 Deadline (Please note: applications can only be submitted from spring 2025)

    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

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).

visit Grants database