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

humanoider Kopf einer Maschine

Societal Transformations

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

Learn more
Hand with compass

Exploration

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

Learn more
Pile of books

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
Schachfigur "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:
  • 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.

    Learn more
    • areas of research: social sciences, life & health sciences
    • funding for: international collaborative projects
  • Online Q&A on August 6 and September 23, 2024
    October 29, 2024 Deadline for task forces
    Next deadline for cooperation projects in 2025

    Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives

    The 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.

    Learn more
    • area of research: humanities, cultural and social sciences (lead); cooperation with natural, life, data and technical sciences possible
    • type of funding: task forces, cooperation projects
  • November 15, 2024 Deadline
    June 01, 2025 Deadline

    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
  • Application at any time after consultation with the Volkswagen Foundation

    zukunft.niedersachsen: Lower Saxony Professorship

    The "Lower Saxony Professorship" addresses exceptional academics who are professionally excellent and have several years of (management) experience in the science system. They are expected to have the capacity to shape the profile and structure of their university location and impact the research region at large.

    Website zukunft.niedersachsen.de
    • area of research: all
    • type of funding: professorship, additional resources
  • Deadline: spring 2025 (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: humanities and social sciences (call 2024)
    • type of funding: 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