The Geography of Circular Economy Scientific Knowledge in Italy

This paper investigates the geography of scientific knowledge production and absorption in the Circular Economy (CE) domain across Italian regions over the period 1995-2024. While previous studies have focused on CE innovation adoption and technological development, little attention has been paid to the spatial distribution of basic scientific research underpinning CE. Using publication data from the OpenAlex database, we construct a comprehensive dataset of CE-related publications authored by researchers affiliated with Italian institutions. We analyze trends in CE research topics, regional and institutional contributions, and patterns of knowledge flows based on citation behavior. We classify regions into four categories – Strongholds, Producers, Absorbers, and Laggards – based on their publication and citation intensity, and examine how these roles evolve over time. Our analysis reveals significant regional disparities in CE scientific activity, with a few regions acting as strongholds of both knowledge production and use. The findings offer new insights into the territorial dynamics of CE research and provide a basis for place-based policy strategies to support green transitions.