Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change┋Transdisciplinary Perspectives
This funding programme addresses transformation processes of democracies in times of multiple challenges and their social impact. Researchers and actors outside of academia work together to identify scientific questions, work on them and develop recommendations for action for relevant stakeholder groups in politics, business or civil society based on the research results.
- 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
- target groups: inter- and intradisciplinary research groups with researchers and actors outside of academia, intl. participation possible
- task forces up to 180,000 euros; collaborative projects up to 1,3 Mio euros
- task forces: up to one year; collaborative projects: 4 to 5 years
28 Apr 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Questions on our funding offer? Join one of our online Q&A sessions
Are you considering to apply for this scheme? In our online Q&A, we will give an introduction to the program and answer your questions. Registration is not required, please participate via the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84647249187 (Meeting-ID: 846 4724 9187)
Please note: Zoom data protection notice (in German) (PDF, 127 KB)
Further online Q&As: 26 May 2025, 13:00 p.m. (for partners outside of academia); 10 July, 10:00 a.m.; 18 August, 10:00 a.m.
What is funded?
The program is aimed at applicants from the humanities, cultural studies and social sciences, as well as (civil) society actors who would like to work together in transdisciplinary teams to exchange and address different ideas and questions on democracy in transition. With this program, the Foundation would like to promote the development of new perspectives on the transformation of democracy, taking into account not only the academic perspective but also the ideas and experiences of (civil) society partners. In addition to research, the program offers the opportunity to develop concrete recommendations, e.g. for politics, relevant social actors or the economy, and to contribute to the implementation of these recommendations.
The program consists of two funding lines:
Funding line 1) Task forces
The programme enables applications for so-called task forces, in which up to two researchers from different disciplines work together with partners from (civil) society within one year on a clearly defined question on acute challenges to democracy in Germany or at the EU level. The focus here is on publishing concrete recommendations for action in the form of policy papers or similar formats.
Next deadline for taskforces is expected for the 2nd half of 2026
Funding line 2) Collaborative projects
The funding programme is aimed at (possibly international) researchers who have completed a doctorate in the humanities, cultural and social sciences (lead) and their (possibly international) partners outside of academia (see below). Cooperation with (international) researchers from the natural, life, technical or data sciences is possible (co-PI).
The research groups consist of two to three researchers from different disciplines and two to three different actors outside of academia. Possible partners outside of academia include non-profit non-governmental organisations, representatives from authorities and/or government bodies, politicians, media representatives and representatives from the field of art and culture who deal with democratic processes. The foundation explicitly encourages the applicant teams to test new creative methods and, where necessary, to take scientific risks. As project results, the foundation expects both scientific publications and concrete recommendations for action in the form of position papers, manuals, tool kits or similar formats.
In both funding lines, an ongoing reflection on the transdisciplinary research process as well as a justification of the selection of partners and the composition of the project team is a central component.
Networking workshop for collaborative projects 2026 (in German)
The next networking workshop for researchers and actors from civil society organisations and institutions will take place from January 28 to 30, 2026 at the Xplanatorium in Hanover. The guidelines and deadline for applications is scheduled to be published in August 2025. With this event, the Foundation is particularly addressing people who have little or no experience in the field of transdisciplinary research and are looking for (new) partners to apply. This is a supplementary offer to facilitate the application process.
Information and registration
The guidelines and deadline for applications for the networking workshop is scheduled to be published in August 2025.
Contact
Dr. Cora Schaffert-Ziegenbalg
+49 511 8381-276
schaffert-ziegenbalg@volkswagenstiftung.de
Administrative/Organisational Issues
Nicole Richter
+49 (0)511 8381-243
richter@volkswagenstiftung.de
