diff --git a/services/collaboration/pkg/command/server.go b/services/collaboration/pkg/command/server.go
index a7eba82730..b118d64d70 100644
--- a/services/collaboration/pkg/command/server.go
+++ b/services/collaboration/pkg/command/server.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/config/parser"
 	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/connector"
-	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/cs3wopiserver"
+	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/helpers"
 	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/server/grpc"
 	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/server/http"
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v2"
@@ -49,12 +49,28 @@ func Server(cfg *config.Config) *cli.Command {
 			}()
 			defer cancel()
 
-			app, err := cs3wopiserver.Start(cfg, logger) // grpc server needs decoupling
+			// prepare components
+			if err := helpers.RegisterOcisService(ctx, cfg, logger); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			gwc, err := helpers.GetCS3apiClient(cfg, false)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+
+			appUrls, err := helpers.GetAppURLs(cfg, logger)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			if err := helpers.RegisterAppProvider(ctx, cfg, logger, gwc, appUrls); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			// start GRPC server
 			grpcServer, teardown, err := grpc.Server(
-				grpc.App(app),
+				grpc.AppURLs(appUrls),
 				grpc.Config(cfg),
 				grpc.Logger(logger),
 			)
@@ -98,8 +114,9 @@ func Server(cfg *config.Config) *cli.Command {
 					cancel()
 				})
 			*/
+			// start HTTP server
 			server, err := http.Server(
-				http.Adapter(connector.NewHttpAdapter(app.GetGwc(), cfg)),
+				http.Adapter(connector.NewHttpAdapter(gwc, cfg)),
 				http.Logger(logger),
 				http.Config(cfg),
 				http.Context(ctx),
diff --git a/services/collaboration/pkg/cs3wopiserver/start.go b/services/collaboration/pkg/cs3wopiserver/start.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 9bc28ca1a7..0000000000
--- a/services/collaboration/pkg/cs3wopiserver/start.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-package cs3wopiserver
-
-import (
-	"context"
-
-	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/ocis-pkg/log"
-	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/config"
-	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/internal/app"
-)
-
-func Start(cfg *config.Config, logger log.Logger) (*app.DemoApp, error) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-
-	app, err := app.New(cfg, logger)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	if err := app.RegisterOcisService(ctx); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	if err := app.WopiDiscovery(ctx); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	if err := app.GetCS3apiClient(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	if err := app.RegisterDemoApp(ctx); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	// NOTE:
-	// GRPC and HTTP server are started using the standard
-	// `ocis collaboration server` command through the usual means
-
-	// TODO:
-	// "app" initialization needs to be moved
-
-	return app, nil
-}
diff --git a/services/collaboration/pkg/helpers/cs3.go b/services/collaboration/pkg/helpers/cs3.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a1cb1cfac3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/collaboration/pkg/helpers/cs3.go
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package helpers
+
+import (
+	gatewayv1beta1 "github.com/cs3org/go-cs3apis/cs3/gateway/v1beta1"
+	"github.com/cs3org/reva/v2/pkg/rgrpc/todo/pool"
+	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/config"
+)
+
+var commonCS3ApiClient gatewayv1beta1.GatewayAPIClient
+
+func GetCS3apiClient(cfg *config.Config, forceNew bool) (gatewayv1beta1.GatewayAPIClient, error) {
+	// establish a connection to the cs3 api endpoint
+	// in this case a REVA gateway, started by oCIS
+	if commonCS3ApiClient != nil && !forceNew {
+		return commonCS3ApiClient, nil
+	}
+
+	client, err := pool.GetGatewayServiceClient(cfg.CS3Api.Gateway.Name)
+	if err == nil {
+		commonCS3ApiClient = client
+	}
+	return client, err
+}
diff --git a/services/collaboration/pkg/internal/app/wopidiscovery.go b/services/collaboration/pkg/helpers/discovery.go
similarity index 83%
rename from services/collaboration/pkg/internal/app/wopidiscovery.go
rename to services/collaboration/pkg/helpers/discovery.go
index 1e8ae29bef..bbc388c932 100644
--- a/services/collaboration/pkg/internal/app/wopidiscovery.go
+++ b/services/collaboration/pkg/helpers/discovery.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-package app
+package helpers
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"crypto/tls"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
@@ -10,28 +9,17 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/beevik/etree"
 	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/ocis-pkg/log"
+	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
-func (app *DemoApp) WopiDiscovery(ctx context.Context) error {
-	res, err := getAppURLs(app.Config.WopiApp.Addr, app.Config.WopiApp.Insecure, app.Logger)
-	if err != nil {
-		// logging is already covered inside the `getAppURLs` function
-		return err
-	}
-
-	app.AppURLs = res
-	return nil
-}
-
-func getAppURLs(wopiAppUrl string, insecure bool, logger log.Logger) (map[string]map[string]string, error) {
-
-	wopiAppUrl = wopiAppUrl + "/hosting/discovery"
+func GetAppURLs(cfg *config.Config, logger log.Logger) (map[string]map[string]string, error) {
+	wopiAppUrl := cfg.WopiApp.Addr + "/hosting/discovery"
 
 	httpClient := http.Client{
 		Transport: &http.Transport{
 			TLSClientConfig: &tls.Config{
-				InsecureSkipVerify: insecure,
+				InsecureSkipVerify: cfg.WopiApp.Insecure,
 			},
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/services/collaboration/pkg/helpers/registration.go b/services/collaboration/pkg/helpers/registration.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..06de9cd51c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/collaboration/pkg/helpers/registration.go
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+package helpers
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+
+	registryv1beta1 "github.com/cs3org/go-cs3apis/cs3/app/registry/v1beta1"
+	gatewayv1beta1 "github.com/cs3org/go-cs3apis/cs3/gateway/v1beta1"
+	rpcv1beta1 "github.com/cs3org/go-cs3apis/cs3/rpc/v1beta1"
+	"github.com/cs3org/reva/v2/pkg/mime"
+	"github.com/gofrs/uuid"
+	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/ocis-pkg/log"
+	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/ocis-pkg/registry"
+	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/config"
+)
+
+func RegisterOcisService(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, logger log.Logger) error {
+	svc := registry.BuildGRPCService(cfg.Service.Name, uuid.Must(uuid.NewV4()).String(), cfg.GRPC.Addr, "0.0.0")
+	return registry.RegisterService(ctx, svc, logger)
+}
+
+func RegisterAppProvider(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	cfg *config.Config,
+	logger log.Logger,
+	gwc gatewayv1beta1.GatewayAPIClient,
+	appUrls map[string]map[string]string,
+) error {
+	mimeTypesMap := make(map[string]bool)
+	for _, extensions := range appUrls {
+		for ext := range extensions {
+			m := mime.Detect(false, ext)
+			mimeTypesMap[m] = true
+		}
+	}
+
+	mimeTypes := make([]string, 0, len(mimeTypesMap))
+	for m := range mimeTypesMap {
+		mimeTypes = append(mimeTypes, m)
+	}
+
+	logger.Debug().
+		Str("AppName", cfg.App.Name).
+		Strs("Mimetypes", mimeTypes).
+		Msg("Registering mimetypes in the app provider")
+	// TODO: REVA has way to filter supported mimetypes (do we need to implement it here or is it in the registry?)
+
+	// TODO: an added app provider shouldn't last forever. Instead the registry should use a TTL
+	// and delete providers that didn't register again. If an app provider dies or get's disconnected,
+	// the users will be no longer available to choose to open a file with it (currently, opening a file just fails)
+	req := &registryv1beta1.AddAppProviderRequest{
+		Provider: &registryv1beta1.ProviderInfo{
+			Name:        cfg.App.Name,
+			Description: cfg.App.Description,
+			Icon:        cfg.App.Icon,
+			Address:     cfg.Service.Name,
+			MimeTypes:   mimeTypes,
+		},
+	}
+
+	resp, err := gwc.AddAppProvider(ctx, req)
+	if err != nil {
+		logger.Error().Err(err).Msg("AddAppProvider failed")
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if resp.Status.Code != rpcv1beta1.Code_CODE_OK {
+		logger.Error().Str("status_code", resp.Status.Code.String()).Msg("AddAppProvider failed")
+		return errors.New("status code != CODE_OK")
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/services/collaboration/pkg/internal/app/app.go b/services/collaboration/pkg/internal/app/app.go
deleted file mode 100644
index ab85a6d67e..0000000000
--- a/services/collaboration/pkg/internal/app/app.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,113 +0,0 @@
-package app
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"errors"
-
-	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/ocis-pkg/log"
-	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/config"
-
-	registryv1beta1 "github.com/cs3org/go-cs3apis/cs3/app/registry/v1beta1"
-	gatewayv1beta1 "github.com/cs3org/go-cs3apis/cs3/gateway/v1beta1"
-	rpcv1beta1 "github.com/cs3org/go-cs3apis/cs3/rpc/v1beta1"
-	"github.com/cs3org/reva/v2/pkg/mime"
-	"github.com/cs3org/reva/v2/pkg/rgrpc/todo/pool"
-	"github.com/gofrs/uuid"
-	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/ocis-pkg/config/envdecode"
-	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/ocis-pkg/registry"
-)
-
-type DemoApp struct {
-	gwc gatewayv1beta1.GatewayAPIClient
-
-	AppURLs map[string]map[string]string
-
-	Config *config.Config
-
-	Logger log.Logger
-}
-
-func New(cfg *config.Config, logger log.Logger) (*DemoApp, error) {
-	app := &DemoApp{
-		Config: cfg,
-	}
-
-	err := envdecode.Decode(app)
-	if err != nil {
-		if !errors.Is(err, envdecode.ErrNoTargetFieldsAreSet) {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	}
-
-	app.Logger = logger
-
-	return app, nil
-}
-
-func (app *DemoApp) GetGwc() gatewayv1beta1.GatewayAPIClient {
-	return app.gwc
-}
-
-func (app *DemoApp) GetCS3apiClient() error {
-	// establish a connection to the cs3 api endpoint
-	// in this case a REVA gateway, started by oCIS
-	gwc, err := pool.GetGatewayServiceClient(app.Config.CS3Api.Gateway.Name)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	app.gwc = gwc
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (app *DemoApp) RegisterOcisService(ctx context.Context) error {
-	svc := registry.BuildGRPCService(app.Config.Service.Name, uuid.Must(uuid.NewV4()).String(), app.Config.GRPC.Addr, "0.0.0")
-	return registry.RegisterService(ctx, svc, app.Logger)
-}
-
-func (app *DemoApp) RegisterDemoApp(ctx context.Context) error {
-	mimeTypesMap := make(map[string]bool)
-	for _, extensions := range app.AppURLs {
-		for ext := range extensions {
-			m := mime.Detect(false, ext)
-			mimeTypesMap[m] = true
-		}
-	}
-
-	mimeTypes := make([]string, 0, len(mimeTypesMap))
-	for m := range mimeTypesMap {
-		mimeTypes = append(mimeTypes, m)
-	}
-
-	app.Logger.Debug().
-		Str("AppName", app.Config.App.Name).
-		Strs("Mimetypes", mimeTypes).
-		Msg("Registering mimetypes in the app provider")
-	// TODO: REVA has way to filter supported mimetypes (do we need to implement it here or is it in the registry?)
-
-	// TODO: an added app provider shouldn't last forever. Instead the registry should use a TTL
-	// and delete providers that didn't register again. If an app provider dies or get's disconnected,
-	// the users will be no longer available to choose to open a file with it (currently, opening a file just fails)
-	req := &registryv1beta1.AddAppProviderRequest{
-		Provider: &registryv1beta1.ProviderInfo{
-			Name:        app.Config.App.Name,
-			Description: app.Config.App.Description,
-			Icon:        app.Config.App.Icon,
-			Address:     app.Config.Service.Name,
-			MimeTypes:   mimeTypes,
-		},
-	}
-
-	resp, err := app.gwc.AddAppProvider(ctx, req)
-	if err != nil {
-		app.Logger.Error().Err(err).Msg("AddAppProvider failed")
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if resp.Status.Code != rpcv1beta1.Code_CODE_OK {
-		app.Logger.Error().Str("status_code", resp.Status.Code.String()).Msg("AddAppProvider failed")
-		return errors.New("status code != CODE_OK")
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/services/collaboration/pkg/server/grpc/option.go b/services/collaboration/pkg/server/grpc/option.go
index 281caa8bc5..df6d23d7d1 100644
--- a/services/collaboration/pkg/server/grpc/option.go
+++ b/services/collaboration/pkg/server/grpc/option.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/ocis-pkg/log"
 	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/config"
-	"github.com/owncloud/ocis/v2/services/collaboration/pkg/internal/app"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace"
 )
 
@@ -14,7 +13,7 @@ type Option func(o *Options)
 
 // Options defines the available options for this package.
 type Options struct {
-	App           *app.DemoApp
+	AppURLs       map[string]map[string]string
 	Name          string
 	Logger        log.Logger
 	Context       context.Context
@@ -33,10 +32,10 @@ func newOptions(opts ...Option) Options {
 	return opt
 }
 
-// App provides a function to set the logger option.
-func App(val *app.DemoApp) Option {
+// AppURLs provides app urls based on mimetypes.
+func AppURLs(val map[string]map[string]string) Option {
 	return func(o *Options) {
-		o.App = val
+		o.AppURLs = val
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/services/collaboration/pkg/server/grpc/server.go b/services/collaboration/pkg/server/grpc/server.go
index 7b5a3f7e04..a0be59dcca 100644
--- a/services/collaboration/pkg/server/grpc/server.go
+++ b/services/collaboration/pkg/server/grpc/server.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ func Server(opts ...Option) (*grpc.Server, func(), error) {
 	handle, teardown, err := svc.NewHandler(
 		svc.Config(options.Config),
 		svc.Logger(options.Logger),
-		svc.AppURLs(options.App.AppURLs),
+		svc.AppURLs(options.AppURLs),
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		options.Logger.Error().