Revisiting research on firm-level innovation in rural areas: A systematic literature review and future research directions

Although firm-level innovation is an essential determinant of sustainable growth in rural areas, the literature on this subject is lacking a state-of-the-art systematic literature review in the context of rural zones. The aim of our study is (1) to describe the firm-level innovation research in rural areas over time, presenting the leading journals and authors; (2) to reveal the intellectual structure of the firm-level innovation field, providing an integrated framework of antecedents and outcomes of firm-level innovation in rural areas; (3) to identify research gaps and recommend a research agenda for advancing the study of firm-level innovation in rural areas. Drawing on articles (N = 152) published in top-ranked sources, our study conducts a systematic literature review through bibliometric and content analysis of material published between 2003 and 2023. Our study significantly contributes to the innovation field by adding value to our understanding about the firm-level innovation discipline in rural areas.