The Role of Cultural Innovation in Fostering Community Engagement for Sustainable Development: A Systematic Literature Review with Bibliometric Analysis

The purpose of this chapter is to conduct a systematic review to examine the intersection of cultural innovation and community engagement in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). Culture is increasingly recognized for its role in promoting social cohesion, environmental awareness, and economic growth, offering localized solutions to global challenges like climate change and inequality. Using bibliometric analysis, this research examines 75 academic papers published between 2013 and 2024, identifying the key themes, influential authors, the main research methodologies, and emerging trends. Results show that cultural practices drive social innovation, urban regeneration, and sustainable behaviors, with a growing interest in technology, especially in smart cities. The analysis also reveals an increase in academic attention after 2017, likely linked to the introduction of the United Nations’ SDGs, with Italy emerging as a leading contributor to the research. Six primary themes are identified: cultural innovation as a driver of social change, sustainability, urban regeneration, technology in smart cities, environmental sustainability, and governance. In this review, the critical role of cultural innovation is highlighted for addressing social and environmental challenges of the twenty-first century, and a research agenda is developed emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches, longitudinal impact studies, technological integration, and long-term impacts.