NEXT – "Dual Use" of Ideas and Concepts from the Humanities and Social Sciences
The Volkswagen Foundation's NEXT grant funds research on how humanities and social science ideas are repurposed outside academia, especially for anti-liberal or anti-democratic aims.
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Funder: Volkswagen Foundation
Due Dates: October 6, 2026 (application deadline, 2:00 p.m. CEST)
Funding Amounts: Up to €450,000 (2 PIs) or €650,000 (3 PIs) per project for up to 2 years.
Summary: Funds research on how humanities and social science concepts are appropriated and repurposed outside academia, especially for anti-liberal, anti-scientific, or anti-democratic aims.
Key Information: Lead applicant must be based at a German university or research institute; international co-PIs allowed.
Description
This initiative supports exploratory, interdisciplinary research on the “dual use” of ideas and concepts originating in the humanities and social sciences—specifically, how such theories and frameworks are appropriated or repurposed in non-academic, often ideological contexts. The program’s focus is on unintended effects, particularly where academic concepts are employed to support anti-liberal, anti-scientific, or anti-democratic narratives. Projects should investigate mechanisms, transfer pathways, and conditions that facilitate these appropriations, and reflect on implications for theory-building and science communication.
The grant aims to stimulate new research directions, encourage critical reflection on the philosophy of science, and promote responsible communication of complex ideas.
