As a private research funding organization, we support researchers with creative ideas aimed at changing the world of science – something we have been doing for more than 60 years now. Our mission: We endow knowledge.

Visit our funding portfolio Who we are

We provide support in four profile areas

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.

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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.

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Kompass

Exploration

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

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hölzerner Schach-Springer (Pferd)

zukunft.niedersachsen

Funding program for top-level research in Lower Saxony.

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Umgeben von einer Gruppe Menschen macht ein Mann Notizen auf dem Laptop

Inken Dworak-Schultz

Story

Pharmacy from the Rainforest: Remedies for the Mind

To the Article on Ethnopharmacologist Fabien Schultz

Events

  • Public event

Wed, 26 Aug 2026, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Future of Postdocs in the German Research Ecosystem: Where Do We Stand One Year After the German Science and Humanities Council’s Position Paper?

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  • Expert meeting
  • Symposium

Wed, 26 Aug 2026, 1:00 p.m. to Fri, 28 Aug 2026, 1:00 p.m.

Postdocs and the Research Ecosystem: Shaping Sustainable Career Paths (Theme Week)

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Newsroom

Eine Frau lehnt an einer Brüstung und schaut in die Kamera
News 25 August 2026

Migration as a prism for the crises of our time – Manuela Bojadžijev about her research project

Mobility is a defining feature of world affairs – yet our understanding of migration is still based on outdated models. The "Aufbruch"-project by Manuela Bojadžijev and Robin Celikates draws on new research designs to use migration as a means of better understanding the transformations of our time.

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Kunstinstallation: Aus einem Plastikgehirn ragen elektrische Klemmen
Interview 13 August 2026

Creativity in Science: Martin Lercher on Night Science and Creative Research

Creativity is indispensable in scientific research: new hypotheses or research questions rarely arise from pure rationality. Working together with a fellow researcher, computational biologist Martin Lercher is exploring how research scientists can learn to be more creative.

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