Illuminating the Field of Sustainable Ecosystems: Framing the Evolution and Future Through Bibliometric and Theme Analyses

Recent years have witnessed rapid growth in academic literature on ecosystems related to sustainability. However, existing studies have treated different types of ecosystems as separate research streams, resulting in fragmented knowledge. Additionally, there are still blind spots regarding the foundational works and emerging themes that should guide future research. This study aims to identify and categorize the subdomains of literature related to ecosystems in sustainability research to produce a systematic and integrated understanding of the topic. Through performance analysis, we assessed the contributions that define the state-of-the-art research in this field while also highlighting the main phases in the evolution of scientific production. Via bibliographic coupling analysis, we identified five literature subdomains: “entrepreneurial ecosystems for sustainability,” “innovation ecosystems for sustainability,” “business ecosystems for sustainability,” “circular economy ecosystems,” and “eco-industrial ecosystems.” Text-mining methods uncovered the key themes of discussion within each cluster. Leveraging these structured analyses, we derived higher level categories to develop a conceptual framework that organizes current scholarship, uncovering connections among substantive issues raised in the literature over time. We suggest that the subdomains have evolved, shaping the development of increasingly interconnected themes and a shift from broad exploration to more selective emphasis. Finally, we propose promising paths for future research by articulating a research agenda aligned with the identified literature subdomains.