Within the last few decades, rising environmental concerns, in particular concerns on the problem of anthropogenic climate change, have forced policy makers to act in order to mitigate future damage. Nevertheless, the latest Conference on climate change in Copenhagen is widely considered to be a disappointment since participants failed to agree on binding emission reduction targets. Against this background, investing in further research and development (R&D) with the aim to find cleaner production technologies is seen by many as the only option to tackle increasing problems which arise due to global climate change and environmental burdens, and, simultaneously, maintaining economic growth and competitiveness. Having a deep understanding of the driving forces of both the generation of environmentally related innovations and, maybe even more important, the adoption of such innovations is of large importance for economic policy to promote such innovations. To provide this deep understanding was one central objective of the present contribution to the SEEK project.At least of the same importance was that environmentally related innovations, for instance promoted by environmental policy, do not come at the expense of other productive innovations. Needless to say, innovation in general is a crucial driver, or even the most important factor, for economic growth and competitiveness. Without any doubts, a crowding out of conventionally innovation due to policy induced environmental innovations could be a considerable barrier to competitiveness and economic growth. Also these aspects of environmental innovations were analysed in this contribution to the SEEK project.The central research questions were studied using micro-econometric approaches and Community Innovation Survey (CIS) data. This was done in cooperation with Professor Reinhilde Veugelers from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Professor Veugeler has extensive experience in working with this database and on doing research on innovations and related topics. The research programme "Strengthening Efficiency and Competitiveness in the European Knowledge Economies (SEEK)" was funded by the State of Baden-Württemberg.Additional information regarding the SEEK research programme.