Research Directions of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Evidence-Based Insights from a Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The entrepreneurial ecosystem, a prominent subject in entrepreneurship, plays a pivotal role in fostering creativity, expediting the entrepreneurial process, and contributing to social development and economic progress. Despite growing research on entrepreneurial ecosystems, a comprehensive review is lacking. To fill this research gap and obtain insights into the current research status, emphasis, and prospective future research directions, this study adopts a bibliometric approach to conduct a comprehensive review of entrepreneurial ecosystem research in the Web of Science Core Collection. The analysis reveals a consistent annual increase in articles on entrepreneurial ecosystems, with a significant surge after 2016. Developed nations, particularly the United States and United Kingdom, are the primary locations for this research, with universities serving as the principal conduits. Keyword analysis highlights the prevalence of such terms as “economic growth” and “education,” indicating their close association with studies on entrepreneurial ecosystems and their impact on economic development. Furthermore, the topic of education encompasses student entrepreneurship, university entrepreneurial ecosystems, and innovative entrepreneurial education systems. The literature can be categorized into two main areas: studies elucidating the concept of digital entrepreneurial ecosystems, including their compositional frameworks and construction pathways; and research examining sustainable development within entrepreneurial ecosystems, which involves broader investigations into entrepreneurial ecosystems and the cultivation of sustainable dynamics within core entrepreneurial landscapes. This study sheds light on current research progress and suggests future research trajectories in entrepreneurial ecosystem studies, thereby advancing the field.