A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis of Knowledge Management for Sustainable Innovation

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the relationship between knowledge management (KM) and sustainable innovation by mapping the intellectual structure of the field. Methodology: A bibliometric and science-mapping study of 314 publications from the Web of Science (snapshot: October 2025), using VOSviewer co-occurrence, overlay, and density visualizations. Findings: Scholarly output has grown continuously since 2016, peaking during 2020–2025. A small set of highly cited authors leads the field. Core outlets include Sustainability, Journal of Cleaner Production, and Business Strategy and the Environment. Geographically, Asia—driven by China—leads productivity, followed by Europe. Keyword maps identify green innovation and knowledge management as central hubs, with emerging themes in AI, digital transformation, and dynamic capabilities. Overall, KMSI has matured into a multilevel domain linking managerial, environmental, and technological perspectives. Research limitations: 1.Reliance on a one-off WoS snapshot introduces coverage and recency biases that can distort publication trends, rankings, and keyword structures. 2.Co-occurrence and citation maps reflect associations rather than causation—and may be confounded by common shocks or omitted variable