Smart cities and open innovation: what is known, how it is known and future agenda

Abstract

The relationship between smart cities and open innovation has attracted growing interest from the scientific community. However, there is still a scarcity of empirical studies on the subject. This study presents a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) supported by Bibliometrix, an R-based tool for science mapping. Based on 61 documents (56 articles and 5 reviews), this study traces the development of the theme by identifying the most relevant journals, authors, citations, keywords, and emerging trends. The findings show that the motor themes are smart city, open innovation, co-creation, and e-government, and that the main trends in evolution are Internet of Things (2017), smart cities (2019), and open innovation (2019). This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of the intersection between smart cities and open innovation by mapping the intellectual structure, key contributors, and thematic evolution of the field. For practitioners, policymakers, and urban planners, the findings provide a strategic map to support evidence-based decisions on where to source cutting-edge research, build collaborations, and benchmark innovative practices.