Exploring Research Trends in Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: A Bibliometric Study

The sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem (SEE) has emerged at the intersection of entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation and institutional development, yet its intellectual structure and thematic evolution remain fragmented. This study integrates bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review (SLR) of 722 Scopus-indexed publications. Citation, co-citation, keyword co-occurrence, bibliographic coupling and science-mapping techniques were applied using VOSviewer, complemented by systematic thematic synthesis. Findings reveal limited early research, substantial growth from 2014 and rapid expansion after 2020, reaching 196 publications in 2024. The United States leads in publications and citations, while Giuseppina Passiante is the most cited author and Christina Theodoraki demonstrates strong network connectivity. The SLR identifies nine interconnected themes covering sustainable entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial ecosystems, institutional support, collaborative innovation, digital sustainability, social inclusion, circular economy and entrepreneurship education. Overall, SEE research is shifting from conceptual ecosystem foundations towards collaborative, digital, circular and sustainability-oriented perspectives. Key research gaps concern contextual differences, Global North–South comparisons, sustainable finance, digital inclusion, ecosystem collaboration and measurable sustainability outcomes.