Momentum – Funding for Recently Tenured Professors is a grant from Volkswagen-Stiftung that funds recently tenured professors in Germany who wish to rethink their research agenda or explore new directions early in their careers.

The program provides financial support and freedom to pursue unconventional ideas, experimental approaches, or breakthrough research in any discipline — including the humanities, social sciences, science, and technology. Eligibility is limited to professors who are three to five years into their first tenured professorship at a German university. The application deadline is April 14, 2026.

Award amounts are not publicly specified on the program page.

Our Funding Portfolio | VolkswagenStiftung 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 Expanding knowledge about processes of transformation and developing possible courses of action together with stakeholders in civil society. Breaking into previously unexplored research territory with unconventional ideas and experimental approaches.

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. Funding program for top-level research in Lower Saxony. We support future-oriented topics with our funding offers.

- Any - Agronomy and Forestry Classical and Ancient Studies Architecture, Regional and Urban Planning Non-European Languages and Cultures, Social Anthropology Business Studies Demography Biochemistry / Biophysics Biology Biomedicine Chemistry Educational Studies Humanities / Social Sciences Geography Earth Sciences History Health Sciences Computer Sciences Engineering Sciences Communication and Media Sciences Cultural Studies Art History Life Sciences Literature Mathematics Medicine Musicology Natural Sciences / Engineering Neuroscience Pharmacy Philosophy Physics, Astronomy Political Science Psychology Law Area Studies Religious Studies Sociology Sports Science Languages Calls Open to All Disciplines Theology Environmental Sciences Administrative Science Veterinary Medicine Economic Science Research on Research, Higher Education Studies - Any - Own position (i.e. postdoc, prof.) Funding of a teaching substitute Research project International cooperation with partner in Germany Organizing an event (research/science) Science communication Seed funding, teaching, graduate education, infrastructure, institutional funding Applications can be submitted at any time Transatlantic Bridge Professorships Funding programme for professors in the humanities and social sciences currently working in the USA who wish to work both in the USA and in Germany.

area of research: Humanities and Social Sciences type of funding: Proportional financing of a professorship in Germany The Volkswagen Foundation’s scoping workshops are for scientists who want to take a step beyond their current research activities and think about the future of their field of research.

area of research: all disciplines type of funding: workshops at the conference center Xplanatorium Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover Momentum – Funding for Recently Tenured Professors The funding offer is aimed at professors three to five years after taking up their first tenured professorship at a university in Germany.

area of research: all disciplines type of funding: concepts for the broadening of perspectives Online Q&As: 30 March and 10 April 16 April 2026 deadline Fellowships (next deadline in 2027) Research Groups: No further calls Our target group: Personalities from science who are researching transformation processes jointly with non-academic partners. area of research: all disciplines funding for: own position Online Q&A: 9 April , 10 a. m.

Navigating a Transforming World Order: Fellowships on Security and Technology We are looking for the security experts of the future: The call is aimed at young postdoctoral researchers who do research on the nexus of security and technology with a distinct European perspective. type of funding: postdoctoral fellowships zukunft.

niedersachsen: Lower Saxony Impulse Professorship The "Lower Saxony Impulse Professorship" addresses academics approaching the end of their early career phase up to a maximum of ten years after completing their doctorate. Website zukunft. niedersachsen.

de zukunft. niedersachsen: Boost Research! Seed Grants for Lower Saxony This funding programme offers researchers the opportunity to receive seed funding for novel collaborative projects.

The aim is to use the funding to enable the acquisition of additional third-party funding. Website zukunft. niedersachsen.

de Researching Research: Strengthening University Centres The funding offer is aimed at established centres, institutes or research priority areas for Science Studies at universities in Germany that have been institutionalised in recent years and are striving for further structural development. area of research: science studies type of funding: funds for structural measures Here you can find our previous funding offers.

Our "Grants Database" informs on research projects and researchers who received funds by the Volkswagen Foundation (since 2004). Don't miss out on any of our funding offers - register now! Please insert your email address.

You have to select at least one newsletter. What would you like to be informed about? Please select: English Newsletter: selected news, calls & events Science Communication: news & webtalk dates (in German) Public Events at Herrenhausen Palace (in German)