In
brief
Deadline: scheduled for summer 2027
Area of research: Open to all disciplines
Type of funding: Cooperative projects
Target group: Researchers holding a doctorate at universities and research institutions in Lower Saxony
Call includes internationalisation module; proposals must be written in English; subsequent deadline in 2027
what we promote
This funding programme offers researchers the opportunity to apply for seed funding for novel projects carried out jointly by at least two partners. The aim is to enable the acquisition of additional third-party funding. This includes the strategic preparation of proposals for major funding formats (e.g. Collaborative Research Centres) as well as significantly smaller collaborative projects. The programme is open to all topics and disciplines.
How to apply
1
terms and conditionsThe Information for Applicants is currently being revised and will be published here shortly. If you plan to collaborate with international partners as part of the project, you can apply for additional funding. Further information can be found in the Information for Applicants on the internationalisation module. We have compiled the answers to the most frequently asked questions in the FAQs document. Prerequisite for application: Participation in an online consultation hour is mandatory. The last meeting took place on 16 April 2026.
2
prepare your applicationYou can find further documents for preparing your application below.
3
submit applicationPlease submit your application via the funding portal. Also upload the template there.
links and downloads
- Information for Applicants "internationalisation module"
- FAQs (download, PDF)
- Ministry’s personnel rates for academic staff
- Template Basic Data Management Plan
- DFG CV-Template
- Template Projektbeschreibung (download, docx)
- Explanations (including input tax deduction, data protection, in German/download)
- funding portal of Volkswagen Foundation
contact











