The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) awards financial support to German universities and research institutes for exploratory activities and the preparation of projects inclusively feasibility studies and pilot investigations.

A special main focus is at the regions Western, Northern and Southern Europe, Central, Eastern and South East Europe, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Turkey, Israel, Arab Countries and Africa, North and South America as well as Asian-Pacific Region.

The EU cooperation with third countries aims to internationalise the European research area and to intensify the international cooperation.

The German Research Association (DFG) supports cooperation with international partners in all of its funding programmes and with a multitude of instruments.

International research collaborations may be funded either as part of individual projects or in the context of coordinated programmes.

Regional and country-specific funding measures are supported in line with existing relationships between Germany and partner organisations abroad in all countries.