AI Research Groups Lower Saxony​

zukunft.niedersachsen

zukunft.niedersachsen

The joint funding program of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation aims at promoting research, education, and transfer in the federal state of Lower Saxony. 

About

Within its funding initiative AI research groups Lower Saxony the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony as well as Volkswagen Foundation are seeking for

‍outstanding Junior Researchers (Post-Docs) in computer science, artificial intelligence or application disciplines​

to build up their own research groups at universities/publicly-funded non-university research institutions in Lower Saxony (Germany)!

Your Profile

Any candidate can apply who conforms to the following conditions:

• You are a ​scientist with at least two years of postdoctoral research experience (PhD before 01 June 2024).The subject-specific focus is on computer science and related disciplines such as, but not limited to, bioinformatics, medical informatics, energy informatics, geoinformatics and business informatics.
• You wish to establish a research group at a university or at a predominantly publicly funded non-university research institution based in Lower Saxony (applicants do not necessarily have to be based in Lower Saxony at the time of application).
• Your application is accompanied by a statement from the management of the host university or research institution, which clarifies the structural embedding and cooperation possibilities of the research group in the institution and, if applicable, describes the intended subsequent employment of you or members of the research group after the funding period. The statement shows that you can independently dispose of the grant.

The first application deadline is September 30, 2025. Funding is intended to start on June 1, 2026. A further application deadline is planned for autumn 2026.

‍The “AI research group Lower Saxony”

• provides you with a reliable five-year timeline during which you are free to advance your own innovative research questions and topics in AI based research.
• funds you with up to 2 million Euro for five years, plus optional an additional 10% for international cooperation.
• includes, in addition to your own position, three to four positions for doctoral students as well as funding for associated materials, equipment and other staff (e.g. positions for  technicians).
• benefits from the infrastructure, networks, and support of a university or research  institution of your choice in Lower Saxony.
• is part of the AI ecosystem comprising all AI research groups and institutions in Lower Saxony.

Important

We highly recommend that you consult the respective information for applicants and frequently asked questions published on our website for further details: https://zukunft.niedersachsen.de/en/factsheets/ai-research-groups-lower-saxony/.

Applications must be submitted exclusively via the Volkswagen Foundation’s funding platform. Find the link below.