Volkswagen Foundation
Impetus for the German Science System: Strategic Experimental Spaces – University Development Requires Flexibility
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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.
Details
| Funder | Volkswagen Foundation |
| Consortium | Required — universities in conjunction with relevant ministries |
| Eligible countries | DE |
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.
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.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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