This project is motivated by the insight that production processes at the technological frontier are no guarantee for a company’s market success. In addition, a company must safeguard its reputation for supporting the society’s overall objectives in the eyes of its stakeholders. The project addresses the question whether companies can improve their financial performance and competitive situation through corporate philanthropy (CP) as an innovative business strategy. Both the quantitative (monetary) and the qualitative dimension of CP activities such as giving or sponsoring will be taken into account. The guiding research question is addressed in the context of data from Germany and the Netherlands, looking for cross-country variation for two countries with a very different philanthropic tradition. The database will consist of self-conducted interviews, annual reports and (online) surveys in combination with existing high quality company and tax return data bases.  The research programme “Strengthening Efficiency and Competitiveness in the European Knowledge Economies (SEEK)” is funded by the State of Baden-Württemberg.