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

Societal Transformations

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

Learn more

Exploration

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

Learn more

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

zukunft.niedersachsen

Funding program for top-level research in Lower Saxony.

Learn more

Funding portfolio

We support future-oriented topics with our funding offers.

Sort by:

June, 30 2025, 12 pm (CET)

Lower Saxony – Scotland Research and Innovation Scheme: Stream II – Excellence Track

The programme provides Lower Saxonian and Scottish higher education institutions and their researchers with an opportunity to conduct joint research to lay the foundation for successful third-party funding bids, in particular Horizon Europe.

Website zukunft.niedersachsen.de
area of research: all topics, particularly energy (transformation), life sciences, educational sciences, mobility and its transformation as well as security policy

type of funding: cooperative research projects
Next deadline for research groups (senior scientists) expected in the 2nd half of 2025

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
Online Q&A: 28 April, 10 July and 18 August (10:00 a.m.)

Online Q&A for partners outside of academia: 26 May (01:00 p.m.)

09 September 2025 Deadline 'collaborative projects'

Networking workshop for collaborative projects: Jan. 28-30, 2026

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
area of research: humanities, cultural and social sciences (lead); cooperation with natural, life, data and technical sciences possible

type of funding: task forces, collaborative projects
The call is currently under review and will be republished in autumn 2025.

Pioneering Research – Exploring the Unknown Unknown

The funding offer addresses outstanding post-doctoral researchers and professors universities and research institutes in Germany, international cooperation partners are possible.

Learn more
area of research: all disciplines

up to 1.3 million Euro
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.

Learn more
area of research: all

funding for: preparation and storing of research data for its reuse