Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Knowledge Management: Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract The Portuguese economy needs new growth engines based on entrepreneurship and innovation, inducing new products and services capable of competing on a global scale. This article aims to understand the role of entrepreneurial ecosystems and knowledge management within the scope of competitiveness and economic development, as well as their benefits for economies that need innovation to prosper, as is the case of the Portuguese economy. In addition, it is also intended to fill the gap identified in the literature, related to the scarcity of systematic literature reviews on this subject. Thus, a systematic literature review and a bibliometric analysis were carried out, following the PRISMA guidelines (Moher et al., 2009). The survey was conducted in two databases (Web of Science and Scopus). The final sample consists of 33 articles, published between 1996 and 2024 and in English. Data analysis is carried out qualitatively (systematic literature review) and quantitatively (bibliometric analysis) to ensure the validity of the obtained results (Bhandari, 2022). The integrity of the study is related to the presentation of all the data gathered, including those that may contradict the author’s perspective, resulting in an unbiased and factual study. The results demonstrate that the main themes addressed in the literature regarding entrepreneurial ecosystems and knowledge management are five: Technological innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems, exploitation of knowledge in entrepreneurial ecosystems, collaboration as an essential tool for knowledge management, financing, and business incubator. Most of the existing research was carried out in the UK, Italy, the USA, China, and Finland, focusing on the theme of ecosystems, entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation ecosystems, and innovation. The business model is the most discussed in existing studies. Knowledge is currently the most valued intellectual asset and innovative and entrepreneurial strategies. Most companies with entrepreneurial ecosystems have effective innovation networks, which helps their economic development and innovative entrepreneurship, positively affecting their competitiveness globally. Moreover, as organizations navigate increasingly complex environments influenced by digitalization and socioenvironmental challenges, the integration of knowledge management practices becomes critical in enhancing collaboration and innovation within these ecosystems. Innovation networks, entrepreneurship, knowledge management, and technology are the key elements of entrepreneurial ecosystems, culminating in organizations’ economic growth and competitiveness. Future investigations should further analyze the business model adopted by successful entrepreneurial organizations, quantitatively corroborating the qualitative results obtained in this study. In this way, the validity and relevance of the key elements identified in this study can be consolidated, providing more insights for entrepreneurial organizations in the future, aiming at economic development and the creation of business value.