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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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 '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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Transdisciplinary Approaches to Mobility and Global Health
Learn moreThe 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.
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areas of research: social sciences, life & health sciences
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funding for: international collaborative projects
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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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areas 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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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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zukunft.niedersachsen: Lower Saxony Professorship
Website zukunft.niedersachsen.deThe "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.
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area of research: all
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type of funding: professorship, additional resources
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zukunft.niedersachsen: Research Cooperation Lower Saxony – Israel
Website zukunft.niedersachsen.deFunding is provided for scientifically outstanding projects conducted jointly by researchers from Israel and Lower Saxony.
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area of research: Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Sciences (call 2026)
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type of funding: research projects
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