International entrepreneurial mobility and innovation: revisiting the phenomenon and future research directions

Abstract

Purpose International entrepreneurial mobility (IEM), the cross-border movement of skilled entrepreneurs, facilitates knowledge transfer and innovation. However, the literature is fragmented and inconsistent. This systematic review synthesises findings across categories of mobile entrepreneurs, identifies research gaps, and proposes future directions, thereby advancing a more integrated understanding of international entrepreneurial mobility and innovation. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a systematic literature review methodology guided by the PRISMA framework to ensure transparency, consistency, and rigour. A comprehensive search was conducted across four major academic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Emerald, and EBSCO) and supplemented with manual searches of high-impact journals. Following a four-stage PRISMA process–identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion–we systematically narrowed down 1,232 records to a final sample of 67 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2000 and 2025 that examine the relationship between international entrepreneurial mobility and innovation. Using interpretative synthesis, we coded and analysed these articles by mobility type, theoretical framing, methodological choices, and innovation outcomes to identify patterns, trends, and gaps in the literature. Findings We find that inconsistencies in the literature on international entrepreneurial mobility and innovation arise from overlapping terminologies, contextual biases in assessing innovation, and methodological limitations from single research approaches. To address these issues, we systematically categorise international entrepreneurial mobility into inward mobile entrepreneurs, transnational entrepreneurs, and outward mobile entrepreneurs. Our integrated conceptual framework clarifies the entrepreneurial mobility–innovation nexus and suggests that future studies should adopt systematic entrepreneur categorisation, integrate interdisciplinary perspectives, expand comparative contexts, improve innovation measurement, and investigate underlying mechanisms to provide more comprehensive, policy-relevant insights into IEM's impact on innovation. Research limitations/implications The framework clarifies how international entrepreneurial mobility promotes innovation, offering practical insights for governments to develop policies that attract, support, and promote international entrepreneurs for greater impact. Originality/value This is the first systematic review in entrepreneurial mobility research to unify all categories of internationally mobile entrepreneurs. By categorising them into inward, outward, and transnational groups, and integrating diverse theoretical perspectives, this study clarifies key concepts and provides a strong foundation for future research.