Deadline: November 03, 2025 (12 p.m.)
This call for proposals supports the establishment and implementation of a research consortium on the topic of “Long-term strategies for climate-resilient ecosystems and habitats in rural-peripheral regions” as part of the Climate Future Labs of the Lower Saxony Center for Climate Research. The aim of the Climate Future Labs is to develop interdisciplinary solutions for a safe and fair climate future and to establish and expand a broad (scientific) network in Lower Saxony and beyond. Through transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary research and by linking both university and non-university researchers as well as implementation partners from business and the community, the intention is to develop urgently needed approaches for changing our lifestyles and economic practices in a way that will be environmentally, socially and economically viable and sustainable. The aim of this year’s call for proposals is to research and develop practical, feasible and long-term strategies for climate-resilient ecosystems and habitats in rural-peripheral regions.
1. Scientific background and support objective
Current scientific reports paint a convincingly picture of global climate change and highlight the urgent need for action on climate protection and climate change adaptation. The IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report (2023) makes it clear that the measures taken so far to limit global warming are insufficient to meet the 1.5 degree Celsius target set in the Paris Agreement. Continuously rising greenhouse gas emissions (Global Carbon Budget Report 2024) and the significant gap between necessary and actual measures to achieve emission reduction targets (Emission Gap Report 2024) underscore the urgency of action.
Science, and interdisciplinary research in particular, play a central role in the development of sound strategies for preventing, reducing and adapting to climate change. ‘Education, science and research form the basis for a self-determined and responsible life and pave the way for the achievement of all sustainability goals’ (German Sustainability Strategy 2021, p. 16). In order to significantly further develop expertise in climate and climate impact research for Lower Saxony in the coming years, the Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) has expanded its existing research funding to include the ‘Climate Future Labs’ series of calls for proposals. As part of this, the Lower Saxony Climate Research Centre (ZKfN) was founded in 2023.
The aim of the ZKfN and the integrated Climate Future Labs is to develop interdisciplinary solutions for a safe and just climate future, to establish and expand a broad (scientific) network in Lower Saxony, and to strengthen the visibility of climate and climate impact research. Through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and the linking of university research, non-university research and practice partners from business and society, urgently needed approaches for changing our way of life and economy are to be developed in order to make them ecologically, socially and economically sustainable in the long term. In addition to excellent research, the ZKfN aims to establish comprehensive cooperation between the Climate Future Labs and to implement innovative and action-oriented collaborations with various actors from politics, practice and science. In addition to promoting research excellence, the ZKfN aims to support knowledge exchange by establishing new formats and platforms for scientific communication and implementing innovative, action-oriented cooperation with various stakeholders.
Currently, five Climate Future Labs at the ZKfN are being funded on the topics of ‘Effects of climate change on the forest ecosystem’, ‘Climate-adapted urban development and spatial planning’ and ‘Microclimate in urban areas’.
Funding comes from the zukunft.niedersachsen programme, which aims to find responses to current and future challenges and permanently strengthen Lower Saxony’s position as a centre for research. The emphasis is on knowledge sharing and concluding new cooperation arrangements. The funding programme focuses on the areas of transformation, digitality and cutting-edge research. zukunft.niedersachsen is run and funded by the Volkswagen Foundation and the MWK.
This call for proposals supports the establishment and implementation of a research consortium that will:
- network the relevant research actors in Lower Saxony and beyond,
- develop solutions and strategies for a safe and just climate future,
- provide sustainable inputs on climate change mitigation and adaptation,
- conduct interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research together with implementation partners and with the involvement of civil society,
- devise proposals for compatible third-party funding,
- develop approaches for changing our lifestyles and economic practices in a way that will be environmentally, socially and economically viable and sustainable,
- and thus contribute to knowledge sharing.
2. Topic
Long-term strategies for climate-resilient ecosystems and habitats in rural-peripheral regions
The ongoing climate changes are having an increasingly noticeable impact, such as rising average temperatures and more extreme weather events (Global Climate Report 2025). The challenges that come with this are especially tough on rural and remote areas and are all tied together.
Heat waves, ongoing periods of drought and heavy rainfall are affecting agriculture and infrastructure. Added to this are issues of regional development, demographics and financing. As an agricultural state, Lower Saxony faces the task of minimising economic and ecological risks and comprehensively promoting regional resilience. Nature conservation and the promotion of biodiversity, for example the protection of moors, coastal regions, rivers and wetlands, also play an important role.
The aim of this Climate Future Labs 2025 call for proposals is to research long-term strategies for climate-resilient regions in rural and peripheral areas and to develop practical and implementable solutions for climate protection and adaptation. Rural peripheral areas are defined as areas that are located away from central conurbations and are characterised by low population density, limited infrastructure (e.g. in the area of mobility) and limited economic resources (Rink & Rink 2011). The thematic focus of the call for proposals should be considered in relation to the existing Climate Future Labs; overlaps with other future labs must be explicitly justified.
A wide range of disciplines, such as environmental sciences and biology, social and communication sciences, regional and spatial planning, engineering and agricultural sciences, sustainability sciences and many more, are explicitly invited to participate. Individual or combined focus areas may be taken into consideration.
The following list is intended to prompt ideas:
Nature conservation and biodiversity
- Impacts of changing climatic conditions on local ecosystems, cultural landscapes and biodiversity, understood as diversity of species, genes and ecosystems, adaptation strategies, renaturation, sustainable management models, innovative land use models, moors, rivers and wetlands
Coasts
- Risk assessment and adaptation strategies in relation to the effects of climate change on coasts and coastal protection, effects on tourism, monitoring, evaluation and adaptive management of coastal protection measures, nature-based solutions, modelling and scenario development in relation to resilience strategies
Water and CO2 storage
- Identification and potential analysis of water storage and CO₂ storage functions of regional ecosystems (e.g. humus formation, agroforestry, ‘blue carbon’), quality and quantity of groundwater, water demand forecasts, issues of safety, long-term stability and monitoring, linking ecological, technological and social issues (e.g. acceptance or conflicting goals)
- Response and resilience of ecosystems to climate protection and climate adaptation measures
Governance, regional cooperation and participation
- Legal and institutional framework conditions, development and use of governance models for effective cooperation between actors at state, municipal, regional and supraregional level effective planning and implementation of climate adaptation measures, research into participatory processes and participation formats together with citizens from different demographic and social backgrounds, local businesses and administrations, inclusion of financing and funding models for projects in rural areas
- knowledge management and interdisciplinary cooperation: transfer of scientific findings into municipal and regional practice, science communication
Resilient infrastructure and digitalization
- critical infrastructures (e.g. hospitals or IT systems), resilient construction and transport structures, use of digital technologies, e.g. in the field of early warning systems, monitoring and data-based planning, forecasting tools and forecasting models (development of model approaches that identify concrete scenarios and options for action for long-term climate resilience in regions outside urban centres).
Socio-economic resilience and regional development strategies
- Investigation of the social and economic impacts of climate change, with particular consideration of vulnerable groups in rural areas, development of measures to strengthen regional economic cycles, strengthening local value creation through nature-based solutions, strengthening business models oriented towards the common good, transformation of work and training structures
Soils
- Effects of climate change on soil structure, nutrient content and water retention capacity, measures for soil unsealing and renaturation, adaptation strategies in agriculture, regenerative agricultural, horticultural and mining practices and sustainable land use concepts, development of innovative measurement and monitoring technologies
3. Eligibility and support format
The call for proposals is open to state-run universities in Lower Saxony (Section 2 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act [NHG]) as well as publicly funded non-university research institutions based in Lower Saxony.
Each consortium must consist of at least three research proposers from at least three different research institutions in Lower Saxony. In order to fulfil the overarching goals, the composition of the research consortia must adequately reflect the competences across locations and disciplines in Lower Saxony. Universities, technical universities (Fachhochschulen) and non-university research institutions may be part of a consortium.
Funding will solely be provided for the aforementioned universities and non-university research institutions. Staff and operating expenditure are eligible for funding. The number of working hours for research assistant positions may be freely determined, but should correspond to what is typical for such roles in the respective disciplines.
External partners and research institutions as well as international universities outside of Lower Saxony can be involved in the consortium. The proportion of funding for external partners may not exceed 20% of the total funding amount. External partners are defined as all institutions based outside Lower Saxony.
Funding of up to EUR 5 million for six years will be provided for one Climate Future Lab. Please include only the direct project costs in the cost plan. Allowances for administrative and infrastructure expenditure will be calculated by the MWK on approval of the proposal.
From the ranks of the parties involved, a project lead at a university or research institution in Lower Saxony must be appointed for the research consortium. This person and his/her institution will be the proposer and, in the event of a successful proposal, the funding recipient who will forward the funding to the consortium partners in accordance with the proposal. At the same time, this person agrees to function as a spokesperson for the Future Lab for the duration of the project, to assume chief responsibility for organising the Future Lab and to work together with the ZKfN Office. For coordination purposes, the proposal must include at least a TVL-E 13 (75%) position who will be responsible in cooperation with the ZKfN Office for the organisation, coordination and public image of the Future Lab as well as top-level coordination with other Future Labs.
The project team composition should be gender- and diversity-equitable.
It must also be stated whether and to what extent aspects of equal opportunities and diversity are relevant to the research project (methods, work programme, objectives). Compliance with the Equity and Diversity Standards of the German Research Foundation (DFG) will be considered in the funding decision for the approval of the funding.
If researchers in the qualification phase will work on the project, the opportunity for further academic qualification must be considered in the proposal content.
All involved in the project are naturally expected to respect the DFG’s rules for good research practice, any rules for good research transfer/cooperation practice of their institutions and the DFG’s guidelines on the handling of research data. The project results are also expected to be published, especially in jointly peer-reviewed publications that are as internationally accessible as possible. Publication in open access journals would be particularly welcomed.
The planned date for project commencement is April 1, 2026.
4. Proposal and selection process
The proposal must be written in English and should be structured as follows:
- Project description with the following information:
- Summary in German and English (maximum of two pages in total):
– Key research question(s)
– Name, institutional affiliation and role of the participating researchers and implementation partners
- Topic, objective, reason for the project
- Contribution to the overarching objectives of the series of calls for proposals
- Latest research (incl. literature) and description of the research gap(s)
- Research approach, methods, hypotheses
- Description of sub-projects, if relevant
- Description of the transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary and, if relevant, application-oriented approach
- Description of the promotion of early career researchers
- Differentiation from other ongoing supports
- Contribution to the strategic objectives of the institutions involved
- Future/subsequent prospects for the project
The project description may not exceed 20 pages (Arial, 11pt, 1.5 line spacing).
- Schedule and work plan (in table form)
- Plan of expenditure in table form, with explanations for the individual items:
- Staff
- Operating costs, such as:
– Travel expenses (e.g. meetings, conference attendance, workshops)
– Equipment and software
– Scientific communication (forms of public relations, publications)
– Events
– Other ongoing operating costs (e.g. consumables)
- Short CVs (one-pager) for the researchers involved in accordance with DFG standards (mention of up to ten of the most important/relevant publications and up to ten of the most important/relevant cooperation projects with implementing partners)
- Research data management plan in accordance with DFG standards
- Favourable opinion from the board of the university/institution of the proposer (project lead)
- Letters of intent from the external partners (organisation)
- Declaration from the designated project lead that he/she will serve, as the spokesperson for the respective Climate Lab and work together with the ZKfN-office.
The deadline for proposals is November 3, 2025 (12 p.m.).
In the event of a positive assessment, the following must also be provided to the MWK prior to any funding being granted:
- A cooperation agreement between the proposing university/research institution and the ZKfN Administrative Office setting out the joint collaboration The contract can be viewed in advance.
- A cooperation agreement between the proposing universities/research institutions setting out, among other things, responsibility for staff in respect of the coordinating research assistant position
The eligibility of proposals for support will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Potential for the project to contribute in a relevant way to climate change research, climate impact research or climate protection
- Suitability of the content of the research project to the main focal points of the respective Future Lab
- Composition of the scientific research consortium, with the greatest possible consideration of relevant scientific skills in Lower Saxony
- Scientific quality of the research proposal
- Methodological fit of the research project
- Innovation potential of the project
- Interdisciplinary composition of the research consortium and organisation of the cooperation
- Integration of the non-research partners in terms of content and organisation
- Involvement of civil society
- Expected advancement of knowledge and transfer potential of the planned project
- Compatibility of the project with ongoing or planned research projects and supports
- Involvement of people in the scientific qualification phase, mention of specific qualification goals
- Involvement of students in research, in particular to strengthen their transformation and problem-solving skills
- Feasibility of the research plan and schedule
- Consideration of aspects of equal opportunities and diversity
The independent scientific evaluation will be organised by the Volkswagen Foundation and documented in a funding recommendation. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture will make the funding decision on the basis of the funding recommendation.
5. Contact
Katharina Zickwolf, M.A.
Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research (ZKfN)
Email: zkfn@tu-braunschweig.de
Tel.: +49 (0)531 391-10070
For questions about the funding platform
Diana Schumacher
Volkswagen Foundation
Email: schumacher@volkswagenstiftung.de
Tel.: +49 (0)511 8381-372
6. Additional information
Additional information in the form of an FAQ can be found below.
There will be a digital information and networking event. Please register here.
