Research Funding from The Volkswagen Foundation: Innovation Processes in Economy and Society
Innovation Processesin Economy and Society
Thenext deadline for the submission of applications is July 31, 2005.
Information forApplicants
- General concept
In the public debate surroundingthe future of modern societies the call for innovativeness plays a keyrole. In this context the term "innovation" is used as frequently as indeterminatelyin order to indicate the need for technological, economic and social changes.The ability to innovate should permit us to keep up with the increasinglyfast pace of change in nearly all areas of society. At the same time, innovativecapacity is in itself an integral component, as well as engine and resultof comprehensive innovation processes.
The meaning of innovationwithin the context of this funding initiative therefore reaches far beyondthe development of new products and processes within technology and economy.It encompasses the entire field of innovation processes inasmuch asthese are not limited to marginal variations of the given, but rather areconnected to fundamental modifications and reorientation - both intechnology and economy, as well as in politics and society.
Such an approach revealsthe increasing complexity of the innovation phenomenon: the focus nolonger lies on a linear process - such as from the invention or discoveryduring the course of basic scientific research, through applied researchand development, up to market implementation - but rather on the inter-and counteraction of various structural conditions, factors, and actorson different levels. It is widely recognised that the innovation potentialof modern societies is dependent on these highly complex interrelationsbetween governmental, societal, entrepreneurial and scientific parameters.
- Objectives
The Volkswagen Foundation intendsto support projects that explore innovation processes in their complexand diverse setting of social, economic and scientific-technological conditions,factors, and actors. Special attention should be given to both the enablingas well as the risk factors impacting on the innovation processes.Important aspects in this context are the counteraction and interplaybetween actors in government, society, enterprises and science, the technical,social, organisational, political, and cultural prerequisites and determinantsof innovation processes, as well as the effects and consequencesof these processes on culture, economy, politics, and society. Ambivalenteffects as well as the non-intended consequences of innovation processesshould also be taken into account. Furthermore comparisons betweendifferent processes as well as historical analyses are welcome.
- Scope of funding
Funding is available for alldisciplines that can contribute to the exploration of innovation processesin economy and society in an interdisciplinary manner. This especiallyincludes business management studies and economics, the social sciencesand jurisprudence, but also history, psychology and ethnology.
International collaborationfor the cross-border networking of experts, scholars and scien-tists isalso desirable.
- Funding possibilities
Interdisciplinary researchprojects as well as symposia and summer schools may be funded. Withinthe framework of a project several interdisciplinary dissertationsmay be combined. Furthermore junior scientists may wish to consider extendedresearch stays in collaborating research institutions at home and abroad.Professors in Germany who contribute substantially to a project fundedwithin this initiative may apply for a six to twenty-four months researchsabbatical (research professorship).
Symposia with participantnumbers not exceeding sixty individuals, including junior scientists, maybe funded also for the preparation of research projects and for discussionof their results. Summer schools for the qualification of juniorscientists may also be eligible for funding. Should institutional initiatives,such as the establishment of international research groups or the startingcapital of centers be considered, applicants should first consult withthe foundation on the basis of an appropriate outline.
The Foundation may providefunding for personnel costs, travel expenses, and non-personnel costs,also for partners outside Germany.
- Applications
Before filing a formal applicationit is advisable to submit a pre-proposal describing the subject,the research plan, the timeframe and the anticipated costs. In this contextpersonnel consultation by the foundation staff may be available.
Since proposals will be scrutinisedby an international panel of experts, all applications are to besubmitted in English. A German summary has to be included.
The Foundation can providefunds only to academic institutions. Applicants who are not membersof universities or known research institutions should also supply detailson legal status, statutes, trustees and boards, charitable status, budgetingand auditing of the respective institution. If available, applicants arerequired to supply an annual report or a general description of their institutions.
Applications from abroadwill be treated in the same way as those from German applicants. They mustinclude a detailed information on a defined collaboration with scientificinstitutions in Germany.
Detailed information onapplication procedures can be found in the enclosed checklist.
The foundation is unableto process applications that have been submitted in identical or simi-larform to another funding body.
- Enquiries
For further information pleaseapply to the office of the Volkswagen Foundation in Hannover.
Prof. Dr. Hagen Hof
Phone.: +49 (0)511 8381-256
e-mail: hof@volkswagenstiftung.de
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