Starting international cooperation usually requires investments that do not results in immediate financial benefits. Thus, the (initial) funding of internationalisation activities often appears to be a prerequisite for the internationalisation of CRCs. Here are some questions and hints you might consider when desiging a CRC programme containing elements of internationalisation:

• Will your programme contain a financial part dedicated to internationalisation? Or do you want to keep this separate from the programme?
• To what extent do you want to finance international activities?
  o        on the management level?
  o        on the project level?
• As internationalisation activities are different for each CRC and in various development stages, the types of activities funded should be defined flexibly. Thus, CRC-programme managers should develop a flexible ‘internationalisation’ package that CRC-managers can apply to in a competitive mode.
• Do you want to encourage your CRCs to look for funds outside your programme? Or even outside your country? Be aware of the consequences, f. ex. with respect to IP.
• Is there a possibility to fund foreign partners from your programme? If not - do you see possibilities to align programmes with preferred countries?