Article
Global Value Chains and Sustainability of SMEs: A Systematic and Bibliometric Review of Emerging Trends and Research Gaps
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in global value chains (GVCs) through innovation, employment generation, and specialised production. However, increasing sustainability and ESG-related requirements have made participation in GVCs more complex for SMEs, particularly due to resource and capability constraints. In response to these challenges, the present study systematically examines how sustainability has been addressed in the SME–GVC literature and identifies key research trends and gaps. Using a bibliometric and systematic method, the study analyses 283 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus between 2000 and 2025. Bibliometric techniques, applied using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, are used to map publication trends, influential authors, journals, countries, and thematic structures. At the same time, a systematic synthesis assesses the dominant sustainability strategies and governance mechanisms adopted by SMEs. The findings indicate a substantial increase in research activity after 2016, driven by the diffusion of Industry 4.0 technologies, expanding ESG regulations, and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Three dominant sustainability strategies—basic compliance, resource pooling, and strategic upgrading- emerge from the literature, with digital readiness, financial capacity, and institutional support identified as critical enabling factors. Despite this growth, the review reveals a strong concentration of studies in developed economies and a persistent lack of SME-specific ESG measurement frameworks. By integrating fragmented research streams, the study contributes a coherent overview of the intellectual landscape on SME sustainability in GVCs. The findings underscore the need for inclusive policy support, staged digital capability frameworks, and context-sensitive ESG metrics to strengthen sustainable and resilient SME participation in global value chains.