Pioneering Research – Exploring the Unknown Unknown
The Volkswagen Foundation's Pioneering Research – Exploring the Unknown Unknown grant funds bold, high-risk basic research projects aiming for transformative scientific breakthroughs.
Funder: Volkswagen Foundation
Due Dates: August 27, 2026 (Short Proposals)
Funding Amounts: Up to €1.3 million per project for 3–5 years
Summary: Supports high-risk, visionary basic research projects exploring uncharted scientific territory with potential for major breakthroughs.
Key Information: Lead PI must be based at a German institution; distributed peer review is mandatory for applicants.
Description
This grant from the Volkswagen Foundation is aimed at researchers wishing to pursue bold, radically explorative basic research that ventures into the "unknown unknown." The program encourages projects that break new scientific ground, challenge established knowledge, and carry a high risk of failure but also the potential for transformative breakthroughs or paradigm shifts. All disciplines are eligible, and the initiative is designed to support ideas that cannot be anticipated by current research paradigms.
