Collaborative Networks of Firms and Innovative Clusters in the Digital Economy: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

This study examines the development of research on inter-firm collaborative networks and innovation clusters in the digital economy through a bibliometric analysis of scientific literature. Its main objective is to identify key research trends, analyze the evolution of publications over time, and explore collaboration patterns among authors, institutions, and countries. The study also investigates emerging topics related to digital innovation ecosystems. As digital transformation continues to reshape economies and societies, collaboration between firms, universities, and research organizations has become increasingly important for innovation, knowledge sharing, and regional development. Drawing on cluster theory, innovation networks, and open innovation perspectives, this study provides an overview of how these concepts have evolved within the context of the digital economy. The analysis follows the PRISMA 2020 framework and is based on peer-reviewed articles and review papers indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection between 2000 and early 2026. Bibliometric techniques and network visualizations were applied using Bibliometrix to examine co-authorship relationships, co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence patterns, and thematic structures. The findings show a significant increase in scholarly interest in collaborative networks and innovation clusters, particularly in recent years, as digital technologies and Industry 4.0 applications have become more widespread. The analysis highlights the most influential countries, institutions, and research collaborations in the field, while identifying major themes such as knowledge spillovers, university–industry cooperation, digital ecosystems, and regional innovation policies. By bringing together a fragmented body of literature, this study offers a comprehensive overview of the field and identifies several directions for future research. In particular, the results point to the need for more multi-level analytical approaches, greater integration of artificial intelligence in network analysis, and more longitudinal studies comparing the evolution of digital innovation ecosystems across different regions. These findings may support both future academic research and evidence-based regional development policies.