Thematic Focus

Transdisciplinariy

Illustration mit drei Figuren, die Kommentare zu einer zentralen Darstellung mit Diagrammen machen

Axel Pfaender für VolkswagenStiftung

Here, we illustrate the work of the Volkswagen Foundation in the field of transdisciplinary research with selected people, projects and funding programmes.

In the Foundation's view, science should further develop interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary forms of cooperation and increasingly involve non-scientific actors in order to find concrete solutions to the pressing problems of our time more quickly. 

News #Transdisciplinariy

Eine gezeichnete Frau Zwischen Papierstapeln, die in eine Cloud fliegen
News 01 October 2025

Research meets administration: finding practical solutions together

Read article
Illustration mit zwei Frauen und einem Mikrofon
Interview 16 April 2025

Research for democracy: funding programme for cooperation projects

Read article
Illustration with a group of protesting people
Funding Offer 20 March 2025

Democracies under Change: call for collaborative projects

Read article
Eine Frau, die aufmerksam zuhört
Story 06 March 2025

So that everyone can have their say: Citizens' assembly on AI research

Read article
Bucht in Alexandria: Das Wasser steht nah an Hochhäusern
Story 05 February 2025

Sinking Cities: Learning from Cultural Heritage

Read article
Impulse-Magazin 2024
Publication of the Foundation

IMPULSE magazine: Transdisciplinarity

#Transdisciplinarity

When researchers integrate representatives from other areas of society into their scientific work, new perspectives emerge and it becomes easier to 'do things differently'. In our magazine IMPULSE 2024, we introduce people who take on this challenge out of conviction. Read their stories in the PDF - or request a free printed copy (in German, only).

Learn more

Funding offers #Transdisciplinariy

  • Illustration with a group of protesting people
    09 September 2025 Deadline 'collaborative projects'
    Next deadline for 'taskforces' is expected for the 2nd half of 2026

    Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change – Transdisciplinary Perspectives

    The 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.

    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 a woman in a hard hat and a building plan in front of an advertising pillar
    Fellowships: Next deadline in revised form, probably 2nd half of 2026
    Research Groups: No further call planned

    Change! Fellowships

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

    Learn more
    • area of research: all disciplines
    • funding for: own position

Stories #Transdisciplinarity

Eine Frau, die aufmerksam zuhört
Story 06 March 2025

So that everyone can have their say: Citizens' assembly on AI research

Rhetoric expert Anika Kaiser researches how people can make themselves heard on the major issues of our time – artificial intelligence (AI) being a case in point. She is the right person to take care that this grassroots democratic process does not remain too detached from reality: in her first life, she trained as a painter.

Read article
Bucht in Alexandria: Das Wasser steht nah an Hochhäusern
Story 05 February 2025

Sinking Cities: Learning from Cultural Heritage

Coastal cities around the world are at risk of sinking as a result of rising sea levels in the wake of global warming. Urban researcher Hilke Marit Berger asks herself how this can be dealt with, not just technically, but above all socially and emotionally – and searches the past for answers for the future.

Read article