Intellectual structure and emerging trends in digital entrepreneurial ecosystems and knowledge interactions: A bibliometric mapping

Abstract

Digital entrepreneurial ecosystems (DEEs) are entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) in which digital technologies reshape coordination and value creation. However, DEE research remains fragmented, reflecting its status as an emerging research domain. This study maps the intellectual structure and thematic evolution of the broader DEE-related intellectual domain, providing a basis for future theorization while examining knowledge interactions. Using document co-citation analysis, 3,408 SSCI-indexed journal articles (1991–2024) were analyzed. Robustness was assessed using two progressively more restrictive corpus specifications, confirming the stability of the principal intellectual structure. The findings show DEE research has evolved at the intersection of EE and digital entrepreneurship (DE), accelerating after 2015, particularly during the COVID-19 period. Knowledge-related concepts remain distributed across EE and DE clusters, highlighting their bridging role rather than forming an independent theoretical core. The findings inform research and policy discussions on ecosystem governance, coordinated support structures, and sustainable entrepreneurial development, particularly for resource-constrained MSMEs.