Emerging economies are under significant sustainability pressures while also possessing great potential for innovation-driven entrepreneurship. However, the existing research on how these dynamics interact is fragmented and uneven. This study aims to map and synthesize the intellectual and conceptual frameworks of research on innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship in emerging economies. Conducting a bibliometric analysis of 504 documents indexed in Scopus and Web of Science from 2001 to 2024. Findings suggest that this field, while still relatively young, is growing rapidly. However, we observed that authorship is quite dispersed and that international collaboration is limited. The key themes in this area focus on green innovation and green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO). It was found that GEO significantly contributes to sustainability outcomes, with various mediating factors influencing these outcomes, including green intellectual capital, knowledge management, organizational support, and innovative sustainable business models. Notably, these relationships are further shaped by environmental awareness and green technological dynamism. Additionally, we identified disruptive innovation and ecosystem-level conditions as emerging, yet critically important avenues for future research. The policy implications suggest that strengthening innovation ecosystems in emerging economies requires expanding access to finance, building digital infrastructure and capabilities, and creating context-sensitive regulations that encourage green innovation and entrepreneurial experimentation.
Ernez et al. (Tue,) studied this question.