Crossing Borders The Volkswagen Foundation – Policies and Priorities 2005 3 Foreword Funding Initiatives The Foundation in Brief 4 Mission and Concept 4 History 4 Capital 4 Board of Trustees 5 Office 5 Finance and Administration 5 Investment Management Funding 6 Core Principles 6 Funding Concept 6 Funding Profile 8 Review and Decision International Funding 9 Cooperation in Partnership 10 Objectives and Requirements 10 Information and Contact Examples of Funding 12 Symmetric Partnerships to Reinforce African Research 18 Plumbing the Depths to the Very Core of Matter 24 Stone Testimony for Eternity 28 New Paths: For Academics as well as for Universities 32 Trapped in Subjective Perception 36 A Jewel on the Baltic 40 With the Tandem en Route to New Domains of Knowledge The Foundation’s Funding Initiatives 50 Support of Persons and New Structures 53 International Focus 58 Thematic Impetus 63 Social and Cultural Challenges 67 Off the Beaten Track – Extraordinary Projects 69 Funding Principles 77 Who’s Who Funding Initiatives Support of Persons and • Lichtenberg Professorships 50 New Structures • Focus on the Humanities 51 • Symposia and Summer Schools 52 International Focus • Knowledge for Tomorrow – Cooperative Research 53 Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa • Between Europe and the Orient – A Focus on 55 Research and Higher Education in/on Central Asia and the Caucasus • Unity amidst Variety? Intellectual Foundations and 56 Requirements for an Enlarged Europe • Documentation of Endangered Languages 57 Thematic Impetus • Complex Materials: Cooperative Projects of the Natural, 58 Engineering and Biosciences • Innovative Methods for Manufacturing 59 of Multifunctional Surfaces • New Conceptual Approaches to Modeling 60 and Simulation of Complex Systems • Interplay between Molecular Conformations 61 and Biological Function • Evolutionary Biology 62 Social and Cultural Challenges • Future Issues of our Society – Analysis, Advice and 63 Communication between Academia and Practice • Innovation Processes in Economy and Society 65 • Key Issues in the Humanities – Program for the 66 Promotion of Interdisciplinary and International Cooperation Off the Beaten Track • Extraordinary Projects 67 Unless stated otherwise, the photos and pictures were kindly provided by the supported institutes. Imprint Photography pages 3, 28, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50, 57, Published by 59, 60, 66 center and bottom: VolkswagenStiftung, Klaus Siebahn, Güstrow Hannover, August 2005 pages 6, 7, 64: Agentur Bildschön, Claudia Buhmann, Berlin Editor pages 12, 14 bottom: Chris Photo- Beate Reinhold visuals Services, Accra (Ghana) page 20: Arbeitsgruppe Press and Public Relations Hochauflösende Optische Dr. Christian Jung Mikroskopie, Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, The articles on page 12 to 47 Göttingen were written in German by their page 21: Bielefeld-Marketing respective authors. GmbH, Bielefeld page 22 top: Wiener Bezirks- Translation: zeitung, Wien (Austria) Daniel Smith, Bremen pages 42, 63, 65, 67: dpa, picture- alliance, Frankfurt/Main Production page 51: Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Sponholtz Druckerei GmbH Marbach Hemmingen page 62: Blackwell Publishing page 66 top: das bilderwerk, Uwe Copyright VolkswagenStiftung, 2005 ISSN 1618-0577 Bellhäuser, Saarbrücken Foreword To support communication and cooperation among researchers from different disci- plines as well as different countries. To facilitate international exchanges and the creation of efficient and effective research collaborations. To make German academics more aware of intercultural differences and pressing issues discussed in other countries. And to enable foreign researchers, in particular from the less favored parts of the world, to participate in internationally competitive research endeavors. – These are the prime objectives of the Volkswagen Foundation in its internationally oriented funding initiatives. They are conceived in an interactive process between the Foun- dation and the respective communities with the intention of setting specific priorities, providing incentives, and generating targeted impulses. This ultimately applies just as much to the funding of basic research in Germany as to the support of international research. As an autonomous institution, the Foundation is able to determine independently the areas where it chooses to act, and thus it is able to respond quickly to changing circum- stances. Being aware of the responsibility this entails, the Volkswagen Foundation also Dr. Wilhelm Krull focuses its attention on the social demands and political expectations towards acade- Secretary General mia. The rapidly evolving global political and economic architecture creates numerous challenges for international cooperation in higher education and research. They call for greater flexibility and intercultural sensitivity. Ultimately it is only the ability to see beyond one’s own horizon, and to collaborate effectively beyond borders – be they national ones, or those set by academic disciplines or generational differences – that will result in the creation of new knowledge. The Foundation’s international grant- making precisely tries to achieve such mutual benefits by creating symmetric partner- ships. First and foremost, this requires the ability to listen to local voices. Without local knowledge and a deep understanding of the issues and the corresponding research needs we will not succeed in providing adequate answers to crucial questions of our common future. The ultimate goal of any funding initiative focusing on the less favored parts of the world must be to open up truly attractive career prospects for young researchers in their home countries. To break the vicious circle of brain drain, to empower the next generation with the confidence to chart its own future, and to maintain it in its local environment requires a long-term commitment. In the end all those involved will benefit from these new attempts at creating symmetric and sustainable partnerships, and from bringing the results of innovative research to other parts of the world. There- fore, we should be prepared to take risks, and courageously embark upon our expedi- tions into the territory of the hitherto unknown by crossing borders in every respect. I hope that the initiatives and projects presented in this volume of “Crossing Borders” will show you that researchers funded by the Volkswagen Foundation are already pursuing the objectives outlined above. And I should very much like to invite you to develop your own concepts and to join us in such research endeavors. Together we will perhaps be able to achieve progress a little faster. It is certainly worth trying. Crossing Borders 2005 3 The Foundation in Brief Mission and Concept History The purpose of the Volkswagen Foundation is to support The Volkswagen Foundation was founded by the Gov- the humanities and social sciences as well as science ernment of the Federal Republic of Germany and the and technology in higher education and research. Its State of Lower Saxony in 1961, when it was registered statutes also document its independent legal existence as a foundation incorporated under private law. It and its character as a non-profit organization. Since it started its operations in February 1962. started its activities in 1962 the Foundation has proved to be a dedicated and flexible funding partner. Auto- Following the end of World War II the ownership of the nomous and economically self-sufficient, it is com- Volkswagen Corporation was unclear. This situation pletely free to determine and develop the instruments was finally regulated by a treaty between the Federal it uses and the topics it decides to support. The Foun- Republic of Germany and the State of Lower Saxony dation’s funding concept is not static. This makes it which turned the automobile manufacturer into a possible to shift focus at any time, to take the initiative, joint stock company and fixed the establishment of a to provide sustainable impulses, and to be able to act science funding foundation. 60 percent of the share should support be needed for tackling urgent problems. capital of the Volkswagen Corporation was put into private hands by a special public offering, and the The Volkswagen Foundation is constantly reviewing Governments of Germany and Lower Saxony retained its funding portfolio in the interest of overriding objec- 20 percent each. The proceeds from this privatization tives. These include a preference for transdisciplinary (at that time 1,074 million German marks) together issues and approaches, support for young academics, with the profits accruing to those holdings provided and the reinforcement of international cooperation. the endowment of the newly founded Foundation. The Foundation also updates its funding offers in It is this to which the Volkswagen Foundation owes accordance with the developments and needs of its existence as well as its name. research, both in Germany and other regions of the world. It is in this spirit that the Foundation recently started initiatives to provide support within the Capital humanities and set up so-called Lichtenberg Profes- sorships. This is to provide outstanding scholars and Today the Foundation’s assets amount to 2.3 billion scientists, and in particular universities in Germany, euros. The funds used to provide the grants are drawn with an opportunity to develop their profile. Likewise, from earnings on investments, the Foundation’s capital the Foundation’s Africa initiative opens up new path- assets being invested so as to obtain