Mapping the Intellectual Structure and Evolution of Innovation Survey Research: A Comparative Bibliometric Analysis of European and Non-European Perspectives
Aug 2026· Journal of Information & Knowledge Management· 0 citations
Abstract
Innovation Survey Research (ISR) has developed over three decades since the launch of the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) in 1992, yet no prior study has systematically mapped its intellectual structure, developmental trajectories, or regional differences. This study addresses three research questions: (1) the knowledge growth, impact and collaborative relationships of ISR; (2) the trajectories of evolution and transformation of its core research themes; and (3) the differences between European and non-European ISR. We conducted a comparative bibliometric analysis of 1,012 Scopus-indexed articles published between 1995 and 2024, combining co-occurrence network mapping, Leiden clustering and thematic literature review of representative works within each cluster. ISR has shown sustained growth since 2008 and a sharp increase in citations after 2020, reaching 54,451 total citations. Six thematic clusters were identified: firm innovation activities, open innovation and absorptive capacity, innovation types, manufacturing and service innovation, eco-innovation and innovation ambidexterity. These clusters have evolved from industry-centred RnD towards more specialised innovation typologies. After excluding 17 theoretical or multi-region articles, comparative analysis between European ([Formula: see text]) and non-European ([Formula: see text]) ISR reveals different trajectories. European ISR shows higher journal concentration and five clusters centred on complex topics such as open innovation and innovation ambidexterity, while non-European ISR displays a more dispersed structure with three clusters emphasising fundamental innovation activities, innovation barriers and developing-economy contexts. This study offers the first comprehensive knowledge map of ISR, contributing to understanding its intellectual evolution and regional characteristics, with implications for innovation policy, data infrastructure and international research collaboration.
This study provides a bibliometric analysis of research on open innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over the period 2009–2025. Using a dataset of 500 journal articles indexed in the Web of Science, the study maps the field’s intellectual structure, publication trends, influential sources, leading authors, country productivity, collaboration patterns, and thematic evolution. The results show a steady growth in scientific production, particularly after 2017, indicating the increasing consolidation of open innovation in SMEs as a distinct research domain. The literature concentrates on a limited number of influential journals, especially Technovation and Technological Forecasting and Social Change, while a small group of highly cited publications forms the conceptual foundation of the field. Thematic analysis reveals that the field is primarily structured around open innovation, SMEs, performance, research and development, absorptive capacity, and knowledge. Thematic evolution further indicates a shift from foundational concerns related to firm performance, manufacturing, and strategy towards more recent interests in business models, eco-innovation, digitalization, and empirical contextualization.
Research at the intersection of digital technologies and business model innovation (BMI) has expanded rapidly since the mid-2010s, yet its intellectual architecture—the conceptual foundations, influential scholars, citation anchors, and thematic clusters that give it coherence—remains poorly charted. Narrative and systematic reviews have proven insufficient to map a field now generating more than 260 peer-reviewed publications per year across at least twenty-seven disciplinary categories. This paper addresses that gap by conducting a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 1,707 Scopus-indexed journal articles published between 2004 and early 2026. Drawing on publication trend analysis, author and institutional productivity mapping, citation and co-citation analysis, and keyword co-occurrence examination—all executed through the Biblioshiny interface of R Studio—we delineate four distinct developmental epochs that trace the field's evolution from pre-paradigmatic exploration to consolidation. Citation analysis identifies a compact set of foundational texts, anchored by Verhoef et al. (2021), Chesbrough (2010), and Ghobakhloo (2020), that continue to organise scholarly discourse across sub-fields. Keyword analysis reveals business model innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability as the field's dominant conceptual pillars, while also exposing theoretical fault lines at the boundaries of these clusters. The findings offer an empirically grounded road map for future research and establish a replicable methodological benchmark for ongoing monitoring of this rapidly evolving domain.
Milan Patel, Prathyaksh Janardhanan· International Journal For Mu...· 0 citations
This study examines the development of research on inter-firm collaborative networks and innovation clusters in the digital economy through a bibliometric analysis of scientific literature. Its main objective is to identify key research trends, analyze the evolution of publications over time, and explore collaboration patterns among authors, institutions, and countries. The study also investigates emerging topics related to digital innovation ecosystems. As digital transformation continues to reshape economies and societies, collaboration between firms, universities, and research organizations has become increasingly important for innovation, knowledge sharing, and regional development. Drawing on cluster theory, innovation networks, and open innovation perspectives, this study provides an overview of how these concepts have evolved within the context of the digital economy. The analysis follows the PRISMA 2020 framework and is based on peer-reviewed articles and review papers indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection between 2000 and early 2026. Bibliometric techniques and network visualizations were applied using Bibliometrix to examine co-authorship relationships, co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence patterns, and thematic structures. The findings show a significant increase in scholarly interest in collaborative networks and innovation clusters, particularly in recent years, as digital technologies and Industry 4.0 applications have become more widespread. The analysis highlights the most influential countries, institutions, and research collaborations in the field, while identifying major themes such as knowledge spillovers, university–industry cooperation, digital ecosystems, and regional innovation policies. By bringing together a fragmented body of literature, this study offers a comprehensive overview of the field and identifies several directions for future research. In particular, the results point to the need for more multi-level analytical approaches, greater integration of artificial intelligence in network analysis, and more longitudinal studies comparing the evolution of digital innovation ecosystems across different regions. These findings may support both future academic research and evidence-based regional development policies.
Adriana-Ioana-Nicoleta Urs, A. Dodescu· The Annals of the University...· 0 citations
This paper conducts a bibliometric exploration of research linking two concepts i.e. clusters and entrepreneurship, a domain that has expanded steadily over the past thirty years. Using 155 peer-reviewed articles sourced from the Dimensions database (1996–2025), the study applies the SPAR-4-SLR framework along with visualization software (VOSviewer) to identify intellectual patterns in publication trend, citations trend, influential journals, influential field of research and new themes map. The analysis highlights a consistent growth in publications from the early 2000s, with output peaking around 2021, followed by diversification into new thematic directions. Contributions are geographically widespread, though the United States accounts for much of the citation influence, particularly through foundational studies by Feldman (2001, 2005) and Sonfield & Lussier (2004). Among journals, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development leads in productivity, whereas Industrial and Corporate Change demonstrates higher citation impact. Bibliographic coupling reveals eight thematic clusters, centering on networks, social capital, proximity, and entrepreneurial capability as drivers of cluster vitality. Emerging topics such as digital entrepreneurship, artisanal industries, and handloom clusters suggest the field’s increasing socio-economic scope. Overall, the findings emphasize clusters as catalysts of innovation, entrepreneurship and regional competitiveness, while offering insights for scholars and policymakers interested in advancing sustainable and entrepreneurship-driven development.
Dinesh Rawat, Kalpana Rawat· International journal of bus...· 0 citations
This study analyzes the evolution and intellectual structure of research on the impact evaluation of innovation subsidies through a comprehensive bibliometric approach. Drawing on a sample of 142 articles indexed in the Web of Science between 2000 and 2023, we apply descriptive analysis, co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence and thematic mapping to identify major research streams, conceptual developments and emerging trends in the field. The findings reveal a clear transition from early studies focused on measuring direct policy effects—such as input and output additionality—towards more complex and systemic perspectives that emphasize knowledge creation, diffusion and interaction among actors. In particular, the literature increasingly incorporates concepts such as absorptive capacity, knowledge spillovers and innovation systems, reflecting a growing alignment with knowledge-based economy frameworks. The analysis identifies three main research streams: (i) the direct effects of subsidies on firm-level innovation, (ii) the role of regional and sectoral contexts in shaping policy effectiveness, and (iii) the theoretical foundations of public intervention in innovation. Over time, these streams have converged towards a more integrated understanding of innovation as a systemic and knowledge-driven process shaped by institutional and contextual factors. By mapping the structure and evolution of this research field, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how knowledge on innovation policy evaluation has developed and where future research efforts should be directed. The findings also provide policy-relevant insights, suggesting that effective innovation policies should go beyond stimulating R&D investment to strengthening knowledge flows, collaboration networks and firms’ capabilities within innovation systems.
Ivet María del Sol Alonso, Sergio M. Afcha Chávez· Journal of the Knowledge Eco...· 0 citations
A thorough bibliometric analysis of research on knowledge management (KM) and innovation published between 1998 and 2025 using information obtained from the Scopus database indicates the growing significance of knowledge management as a catalyst for innovation in the digital economy.
Savita Saini· Future Business Journal· 0 citations
