Entrepreneurial Competencies, Innovation, and Business Sustainability in SMEs: A Bibliometric Analysis
https://doi.org/10.56225/finbe.v4i3.489
Keywords:
Entrepreneurial competencies, Innovation, Business Sustainability, SMEs, Bibliometric analysisAbstract
Research on entrepreneurial competencies, innovation, business incubation, and business sustainability in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has expanded rapidly yet remains conceptually dispersed. This study employs a quantitative bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed publications, using performance indicators and keyword co-occurrence mapping supported by VOSviewer to examine publication trends, thematic structures, and collaboration patterns. The results indicate substantial growth in research output over the past decade, accompanied by increasing thematic convergence around sustainability-oriented SME development. Business incubators appear as central institutional mechanisms that connect entrepreneurial competencies with innovation processes. Innovation, particularly business model innovation, emerges as a pivotal mechanism linking entrepreneurial capabilities to long-term business sustainability outcomes. The findings further show strong international collaboration across developed and emerging economies, reflecting the global relevance of sustainability-driven SME research. Overall, the analysis demonstrates that innovation functions as a key mediating construct between entrepreneurial competencies and sustainable SME performance, suggesting the need for integrative research frameworks that align micro-level capabilities with broader sustainability outcomes.
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