A short survey on small reasoning models: training, inference, applications, and research directions

Abstract Recently, the reasoning capabilities of Large Reasoning Models (LRMs), such as DeepSeek-R1, have witnessed significant advancements through computationally intensive “slow thinking” processes. These models have demonstrated impressive performance across a variety of complex reasoning tasks. However, despite their remarkable success, LRMs come with substantial computational demands that pose considerable challenges in terms of resource consumption, scalability, and accessibility. In contrast, Small Reasoning Models (SRMs), which are often distilled from larger models, offer a more efficient alternative while still achieving competitive performance. Beyond their efficiency, SRMs frequently exhibit distinct capabilities and cognitive trajectories compared with their larger counterparts, making them particularly interesting from both practical and theoretical perspectives. In this work, we provide a timely and comprehensive survey of recently published research focused on SRMs. We first review the current landscape of SRMs. Then, we analyze diverse training paradigms and inference techniques tailored to enhance the reasoning capabilities of SRMs. Furthermore, we offer an extensive review of domain-specific applications where SRMs have been effectively leveraged. Finally, we discuss promising future research directions that aim to bridge existing gaps. By consolidating recent advances, this survey serves as an essential reference for researchers and practitioners interested in leveraging or developing SRMs to unlock advanced reasoning functionalities with improved efficiency.