# VolkswagenStiftung Momentum 2027

**Funder:** Volkswagen Foundation
**Budget:** Up to €850,000 (phase 1) + up to €200,000 (phase 2)
**Deadline:** 6 April 2027 (Annual deadline ~early April; closes 6 Apr 2027 12:00)
**Duration:** Up to ~6 years (two phases)
**Consortium:** No — individual professor
**Application:** Single-stage
**Frequency:** Annual (~early April)
**Next round:** 2028-04
**Eligible countries:** DE
**Official call:** https://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/en/funding/funding-offer/momentum-funding-recently-tenured-professors
**Last verified:** 18 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

VolkswagenStiftung Momentum funds professors 3-5 years after their first tenured (full) professorship at a German university to develop their research strategy. Narrow career window; Germany-only.

## Summary

VolkswagenStiftung Momentum funds professors 3-5 years into their first tenured position at German universities to develop and establish their independent research strategy, with up to €850,000 in phase 1 and €200,000 in phase 2 (total €400,000-€1,050,000 over ~6 years). The call targets early-tenured scholars across all disciplines who are building distinctive research profiles and institutional leadership. This is a Germany-only programme with a narrow eligibility window; applications are single-stage, closing in early April each year.

## Who should apply

- Professors in their first tenured (full) position at a German university
- Scholars 3-5 years into that first tenure appointment
- Researchers across all disciplines with a clearly articulated research direction
- Early-career faculty establishing independent research groups and institutional visibility

## Key dates

- Deadline 6 April 2027 at 12:00 GMT; annual call with next round expected April 2028
- Single-stage written application
- Two-phase funding: up to 6 years total (phase 1 up to €850,000; phase 2 up to €200,000)

## Tips for applicants

- Emphasise research distinctiveness and intellectual independence from your PhD and postdoctoral mentors; the panel looks for emerging identity, not continuation.
- Detail your institutional embedding strategy, committee roles, mentoring, infrastructure development, not only publications; Momentum values faculty leadership, not just labs.
- Germany-only: must hold a tenured professor position (full professor equivalent, *Universitätsprofessor/-in*) at a recognised German university at application time.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does VolkswagenStiftung Momentum pay?

Up to €850,000 in phase 1 plus up to €200,000 in phase 2, totalling €400,000-€1,050,000 over approximately six years.

### Who is eligible for VolkswagenStiftung Momentum?

Professors 3-5 years after taking up their first tenured (full) professorship at a German university; Germany-only eligibility.

### When is the VolkswagenStiftung Momentum deadline?

The annual deadline is early April; the 2027 deadline is 6 April 2027 at 12:00 GMT.

### What is the application process for VolkswagenStiftung Momentum?

Single-stage written application; no interview or pre-proposal stage.

### Is VolkswagenStiftung Momentum a recurring programme?

Yes, it runs annually with calls closing in early April; the next round is expected April 2028.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/volkswagen-foundation-volkswagenstiftung-momentum-2027) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.