​​AI Research Groups Lower Saxony​ 

1. Objectives

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly revolutionising scientific disciplines and knowledge production as a whole by enabling new methods for analysing complex data, automating research processes and developing innovative solutions. Its interdisciplinary application is uncovering ground-breaking insights in fields such as medicine, materials science, climate research and social sciences.

The state of Lower Saxony wants to attract and support scientifically excellent researchers at early career stages in order to advance development and application of artificial intelligence in the state in the long term. Through this, new innovative topics are to be anchored within Lower Saxony’s research landscape. At the same time, AI-specialists are to be trained in Lower Saxony in order to attract them in science, business or administration and thus cover the demand for AI expertise in various areas of application.

The call for proposals supports AI research groups that are dedicated to the advancement of AI methods and/or application-oriented research on the basis of existing large data sets.

A variety of different data sets can conceivably be used, for example, but not restricted to, from the areas of energy, mobility, health, life sciences, public administration, the labour market, cybersecurity or production. The project can also include the preparation of data sets.

The subject-specific focus is on computer science and related disciplines such as, but not limited to, bioinformatics, medical informatics, energy informatics, geoinformatics and business informatics. Regarding the in-depth study of the addressed data sets, interdisciplinary cooperation is expressly welcome.

The programme can be used both to expand existing scientific strengths (building “critical masses”) and to exploit scientifically outstanding thematic potential that has so far received less attention.

2. Scope of Funding

Funding is provided for research groups, usually consisting of a post-doctoral position for a principal investigator (PI; the applicant) and three to four doctoral positions. The involvement and funding of cooperation partners is possible. In addition, the applicants are expected to liaise closely with the management of the host institution. The funding covers costs for research staff (salary grades: up to E15 (100%) for the PI and E13 (100%) for PhD candidates) as well as costs for associated material and equipment and other staff (e.g. positions for technicians) for a total duration of 60 months (doctoral positions usually run for 48 months). The maximum grant amount per application is EUR 2 million. The allocation of funds to staff and other costs is up to the applicant and must be substantiated.

In total, EUR 20 million from zukunft.niedersachsen will be made available for the call, which will be split over two deadlines.

The selected research groups are expected to network and exchange information on the content and methods of their research projects at least once a year. This also includes an extended exchange with other working groups and activities in this field, for example the CAIMed network. The Volkswagen Foundation will organise status symposia as a framework for this exchange.

Within the internationalisation module of the call, it is possible to apply for additional funding of up to 10% of the requested amount for the involvement of international cooperation. Information on the module can be found here.

3. Application and Selection Procedure

Applications can be submitted by scientists who wish to establish a research group at a university in Lower Saxony under state responsibility (§2 NHG) or at a predominantly publicly funded non-university research institution based in Lower Saxony and who have been active in research for at least two years after completing their PhD. Applicants do not necessarily have to be based in Lower Saxony at the time of application.

The application must be accompanied by a statement from the management of the host university or research institution, which clarifies the structural embedding and cooperation possibilities of the research group in the institution and, if applicable, describes the intended subsequent employment of the PI or members of the research group after the funding period. The statement must show that the PI can independently dispose of the grant. If necessary, this can be confirmed by a co-signature from the host institute or department.

There is no limit to the number of applications that can be submitted by a university or research institution.

3.1 Overview

The first application deadline is September 30, 2025. Funding is intended to start on June 1, 2026.

A further application deadline is planned for September 30, 2026.

3.2 Procedure

There will be a competitive review of the applications. The review will be organised by the Volkswagen Foundation. A presentation by the applicants will be part of the review.

Based on the funding recommendation given by the review panel, the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony (MWK) decides on the funding against the background of the available funds.

Given the objectives of the call for proposals, the selection criteria are:

• Originality and relevance of the research questions
• Expertise and potential (for development) of the applicant
• Availability and quality of the data to be processed and plausibilisation of the specific expertise that may be required for the contextualisation of the data (letter of intent from the data-providing institution)
• Structural and content-related orientation of the research group as well as the work plan and content-related connections within the group
• Structural embedding of the research group in the host institution with regards to research, teaching and/or transfer (basis: statement of the host institution)
• In case current large-volume funding formats in Lower Saxony are closely related: convincing complementarity
• Transfer potential for economic or social utilisation of the results, including specific relevance of the project for Lower Saxony
• Adequacy of the requested funds
• Gender and diversity equality and, where applicable, aspects of ecological sustainability.

4. Information on the Application

4.1 Our Funding Platform

Applications must be submitted exclusively via the Volkswagen Foundation’s funding platform. Please look for the relevant call for proposals for this information sheet in the overview.

It is important that all applicants (PI and any co-applicants with their own expenditure plan) register early in the process. Co-applicants can only collaborate on an application if they have been invited beforehand and have registered in the funding platform.

If you have any technical questions about using the platform, please contact support@volkswagenstiftung.de.

4.2 Information on Enclosements

Please only use the templates provided for download on the call’s website or in the funding platform.

4.2.1 Project Description

Please note the information on the maximum number of pages contained in the template as well as the other formal requirements.

4.2.2 Expenditure Plan

Please only use the Excel template available for download in the funding platform and follow the instructions in the corresponding spreadsheet of the template.

For cooperation projects, a separate expenditure plan must be submitted for each PI.

4.2.3 Curriculum Vitae

Please submit your CV according to the template provided.

4.2.4 Declaration by the Beneficiaries

Please submit the signed declaration of the grant recipient for the host organisation and, if applicable, all other organisations with their own expenditure plan.

4.2.5 Letter of Support from the Host Institution

Please submit a statement from the management of the host institution as detailed under “3 Application and selection procedure”.

4.2.6 Further Letters of Support

If the data to be processed is not freely available, submit a letter of support from the institution providing the data. If necessary, you can add letters of support from other cooperation partners.

4.2.7 Data Management Plan

If data is collected or generated, the essential information must be presented in a data management plan (basic data management plan or a more detailed data management plan of the respective discipline). Please upload the data management plan at the appropriate point in the application platform. If no data will be generated in the project, this must be explicitly stated in the application text.

4.3 Further Information on the Application Process

4.3.1 Expectations Regarding Scientific Practice, Publication and Data Management

All project participants are understood to observe the German Research Foundation’s (DFG) rules of good scientific practice, any rules of good scientific transfer or cooperation practice at their institutions and the DFG’s guidelines on the handling of research data. It is also expected that the project results will be published, in particular in joint peer-reviewed and internationally accessible publications. Publication in open access journals is preferred and particularly welcome.

4.3.2 Administrative and Infrastructure Expenditure allowance

The funding is linked to the payment of a 10% administration and infrastructure expenditure allowance (VIAP). This is automatically added to the expenditure plan submitted.

Note: Please only enter the direct project costs required for the project in the expenditure plan. The VIAP will be calculated upon approval by the MWK.

4.3.3 Further Information on Eligible Expenses

Note on Staff costs

The calculation of staff cost rates is based upon the average rates of the Ministry of Finance of Lower Saxony. The rates listed on the funding platform of the Volkswagen Foundation do not apply here.

Material Costs and Travel Expenses

Travel expenses are reimbursable in accordance with the provisions of the Bundesreisekostengesetz (BRK) in conjunction with the provisions of the Niedersächsischen Reisekostenverordnung (NRKVO) and the administrative regulations to the NRKVO (VV-NRKVO) dated January 10, 2017, in their latest versions. (Note: Eligible expenses are necessary expenses for travel using the cheapest regularly scheduled public transportation.)

Printing and Publication Costs

Printing and publication costs for the publication of research results (up to EUR 10,000) can be funded. The results should preferably be made open access. A separate approval requirement may apply if additional open access funds are used.

Scientific Equipment

These can be applied for if they are required for the realisation of the project and are not part of the basic equipment. When applying for funding, the equipment must be described in detail and its price, including all ancillary costs, must be stated. Ongoing expenses for scientific equipment, e.g. for energy, insurance, maintenance, repairs and spare parts, are not eligible for funding. It must be confirmed that the proper use, location and maintenance of the equipment as well as the coverage of recurrent costs are ensured.

Data Management

The costs for the preparation of research data must be included in the project’s expenditure plan.

Not Eligible for Funding:

• Indirect costs, i.e. costs for infrastructure used (e.g. room or energy costs, see also the notes on scientific equipment),
• Expenses for hospitality,
• Funds for the acquisition of land and buildings, building maintenance

5. Contact us

​​Dr Martin Berger, Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture​
E-mail: martin.berger@mwk.niedersachsen.de
Phone: +49 511- 1202520

For questions about the expenditure plan:
Elisabeth Heyer, Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture
E-mail: elisabeth.heyer@mwk.niedersachsen.de
Phone: +49 511-120 2581

For questions about the funding platform:
​Diana Schumacher​, Volkswagen Foundation
E-mail: schumacher@volkswagenstiftung.de
Phone: +49 511-8381 ​372​

As of April 2025