Impetus for the German Science System: Strategic Experimental Spaces – University Development Requires Flexibility
Limited submissionForecasted
Impetus for the German Science System: Strategic Experimental Spaces – University Development Requires Flexibility supports German universities and ministries in testing regulatory changes for transferable university development.
Browse similar grants
Funder: Volkswagen Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (project proposals)
Funding Amounts: Up to €500,000 per project for 2–5 years; up to 10 projects
Summary: Supports German universities and ministries in testing regulatory flexibility for transferable approaches to university development.
Key Information: A university must lead the application with a binding declaration of intent from a responsible ministry.
Description
The Volkswagen Foundation funds strategic experimental spaces in which German universities and relevant ministries test ways to pursue university goals blocked by existing legal or bureaucratic rules. By creating exceptions or special regulations, projects can explore new cross-institutional or cross-border cooperation and improve the structural conditions for exploratory, pioneering research.
The initiative seeks approaches that advance a university’s central strategic goals while offering lessons beyond one institution or location. Possible areas include cooperation with extramural research institutes, new employment structures, innovation and transfer, and university infrastructure. Successful experiments could inform lasting changes for other universities or federal states.
