The R&D Cooperation Initiation funding program supports companies that initiate national or international research and development cooperations.

Who: Companies in the start-up phase, small, medium-sized and large companies and research institutions
What: Personnel costs, external services, travel expenses
Eligibility criteria: scientific level of the targeted research collaboration, the organization and diversity of the targeted partnership, the suitability and appropriateness of the preparatory work, and the embedding of the project in a company-wide research strategy
Submission: Ongoing online via the online grant application. The grant application must be submitted before the start of the project.

You can find further information here.