Title: Evolution and trends in entrepreneurial ecosystems: a bibliometric exploration and future research agenda

Authors: Sagar Kumar Behera; Rajeev Kumar Panda

Addresses: School of Management, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Sector 1, Rourkela, Odisha, India ' School of Management, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Sector 1, Rourkela, Odisha, India

Abstract: The entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) area is growing remarkably due to the increasing prominence of start-up culture, but the literature on EE remains fragmented. The study examines EE literature's evolution and emerging trends through bibliometric analysis of 522 publications from 2006 to 2023. Key focus areas include publications, journals and authors trends, keyword co-occurrence, thematic categorisation, and bibliographic coupling. Findings highlight significant growth in publications post-2015, with a growing emphasis on sustainability, resilience, and technology adoption. Prominent scholars such as Audretsch and influential journals, including small business economics, have played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing discussions on EE. Emerging themes, including sustainable entrepreneurship and digital platforms, are complemented by established areas such as dynamic capability, innovation systems, and entrepreneurial processes. Furthermore, study offers a roadmap for navigating literature on EE, providing policymakers and practitioners with valuable insights into characteristics that make ecosystems successful in supporting enterprise growth and development.

Keywords: entrepreneur; entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial ecosystem; start-up ecosystem; bibliometric analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2026.150482

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2026 Vol.25 No.1, pp.1 - 31

Received: 18 Jun 2024
Accepted: 01 Dec 2024
Published online: 15 Dec 2025 *

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