The Complementarity of Corporate Social Responsibility and Innovation : Evidence from Belgian Firms

In recent years, more and more companies, both small and large, have become aware of issues related to sustainable development. In spite of the significant presence of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Europe, few studies have examined the social responsibilities of SMEs. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) requires numerous changes for companies, and innovation can thus constitute a tool supporting the implementation of CSR. In addition, sustainable development can generate new opportunities for SMEs to innovate. Thus, the goal of this exploratory study is to better understand the connections linking CSR and innovation in the context of SMEs. Semi-structured interviews with leaders of seven SMEs in Wallonia (Belgium) have allowed us to provide insight regarding the role of innovation in the process of defining social responsibility in the SME context