From science to system: a literature review of the evolution of science cities

Abstract The organization of aggregated scientific and innovative capabilities into “Science Cities” (SCs) has emerged as a prominent feature of innovation policy in the knowledge-based economy. Yet, as an intellectual project, SC research remains fragmented, with its conceptual evolution deeply intertwined with broader societal shifts and its rising prominence as a growth strategy in diverse regional contexts. This fragmentation underscores the value of a comprehensive examination of its research trends and global landscape. Accordingly, this paper employs an evolutionary approach to analyze SCs, aiming to explore the dynamic interplay between practical developments and theoretical advancements in macro-level contexts. This is achieved through a bibliometric analysis of 1585 articles from the Web of Science (WoS) database, using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software, to map key thematic shifts and geographic trends. These findings are then complemented by a systematic review of 35 pivotal articles, which focuses on the evolving relationship between SC practice and theory across three distinct phases. Our analysis seeks to trace the evolution of SCs from practice-driven initiatives to complex innovation ecosystems, in order to offer insights into their development and suggest potential avenues for future research.