Digital Enablers of Sustainability: Insights from Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Research Mapping

Jeongmi Ga, Jaewoo Bong, Myeongjun Yu and Minjung Kwak ()
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Jeongmi Ga: Department of Industrial and Information Systems Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
Jaewoo Bong: Department of Industrial and Information Systems Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
Myeongjun Yu: Department of Industrial and Information Systems Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
Minjung Kwak: Department of Industrial and Information Systems Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-27

Abstract: As the global emphasis on sustainable development intensifies, the integration of digital technologies (DTs) into efforts to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has gained increasing attention. However, existing research on the link between the SDGs and DTs remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive perspective on their interconnections. We aimed to address this gap by conducting a large-scale bibliometric analysis based on Elsevier’s SDG research mapping technique. Drawing on approximately 1.17 million publications related to both the 17 SDGs and 11 representative DTs, we explored research trends in the SDG–DT association, identified DTs that are most frequently tied to specific SDGs, and uncovered emerging areas of research within this interdisciplinary domain. Our results highlight the rapid expansion in the volume and variety of SDG–DT studies. Our findings shed light on the widespread relevance of artificial intelligence and robotics, the goal-specific applications of technologies such as 3D printing, cloud computing, drones, and extended reality, as well as the growing visibility of emerging technologies such as digital twins and blockchain. These findings offer valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders aiming to strategically harness DTs to support sustainable development and accelerate progress toward achieving the SDGs.

Keywords: sustainability; sustainable development goals; digital technology; Industry 4.0; bibliometric analysis; SDG mapping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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