# Impetus for the German Science System: Strategic Experimental Spaces – University Development Requires Flexibility

**Funder:** Volkswagen Foundation
**Consortium:** Required — universities in conjunction with relevant ministries
**Eligible countries:** DE
**Official call:** https://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/en/funding/funding-offer/impetus-german-science-system-strategic-experimental-spaces-university-development-requires-flexibility
**Last verified:** 19 July 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Invites German universities, in conjunction with relevant ministries, to open and design experimental spaces to test new forms of cross-border or cross-institutional cooperation. Strategic projects only.

## Summary

The Volkswagen Foundation invites German universities, in partnership with relevant state ministries, to establish experimental spaces that test and pilot new cross-border and cross-institutional cooperation models. The call funds strategic projects exploring innovative governance and institutional arrangements in the German higher-education system. Consortium membership between universities and ministries is mandatory.

## Who should apply

- German universities as lead applicants
- State ministries responsible for higher education as consortium partners
- Institutions ready to pilot new governance or cooperative structures
- Strategically positioned universities exploring cross-border higher-education frameworks

## Key dates

- First listed 27 April 2026 (consult Volkswagen Foundation website for formal deadline and submission stages)

## Tips for applicants

- Ministry partnership is non-negotiable; frame your experimental space as jointly designed with the state actor to signal implementability.
- Emphasise strategic intent, this call funds structural pilots, not incremental improvements; position your proposal as testing a genuinely novel cooperation model.
- Clarity on the research or educational benefit of the experimental design strengthens the case; avoid procedural narratives.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is eligible to apply for this Volkswagen Foundation call?

German universities as lead applicants, in mandatory partnership with the relevant state ministry.

### Is a ministry partner required for this grant?

Yes, the call explicitly requires consortium membership between the university and the relevant state ministry.

### What types of cooperation models does this call fund?

The call funds experimental spaces testing new cross-border or cross-institutional cooperation arrangements in the German higher-education system.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/volkswagen-foundation-impetus-for-the-german-science-system-strategic-ex-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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