(Sara lee Douwe Edberts vs Philips)Who contacted who, before going into
Alliances to create Senseo? or which one had the idea first?

I am working on co-innovation and need to know why and how do firms
search for partners.
Thank you, in advance, for your help.

"Philips and Sara Lee collaborated on the creation of the Senseo
coffee machine and coffee pods from the very beginning"
<http://www.saralee.com/saralee-assets/pdf/news/Senseo_US.pdf>

Thank you but this doesn't answer my question because your article is
not talking in details about who contacted who... or how it
happened... That articles gives some general details to introduce
senseo in the US.

Dear Covation, 

That is why I've posted it as a comment, not an answer. I hope someone
else would be able to answer your question.

thanks.. I hope so too... because finding those answers are not that
easy.. I have been working on the subjet (co-innovation) since 1
month.. and not managing to find many interesting alliances