The increasing demand to improve the quality of clinical research has been addressed in recent years in Germany. In a response designed to overcome the shortcomings of existing collaboration between academic institutions, contract research organisations (CROs), and the pharmaceutical industry, clinical study centres have been initiated and funded by the German Ministry for Science and Technology. In addition, CROs and the pharmaceutical industry have independently found ways to establish collaborative networks via close links to university medical departments. This article provides two examples demonstrating how this has been accomplished in Berlin, Germany. Firstly, a CRO, 3ClinicalResearch, having in place a formal cooperation agreement with the university hospital, together with a physical representation at its heart, via a research unit on the central campus of the Charité Hospital in Berlin, Germany. Secondly, a drug discovery and development company, Jerini AG, specialising in peptidomimetic and small molecule development.