Abstract:     Leading enterprises play a pivotal role in advancing modernization of industrial chains. To better understand the research status and progress in this field, this study employed a scientific knowledge mapping approach to conduct visual analyses—including keyword co-occurrence, author co-occurrence, and keyword burst detection—on relevant literature. The paper systematically reviewed existing research from three dimensions: an overview of leading enterprises′ role in industrial chain development, key research themes, and emerging trends. The findings revealed that existing studies primarily focus on three themes: organizational models, leadership mechanisms, and industrial performance. In terms of research perspectives, there is a discernible shift from meso-level to micro-level and back to meso-level analyses. Regarding research contexts, the focus has transitioned from traditional organizational settings to emerging ones. Future research explored the impact of leading enterprises on crossindustry integration, innovation paradigms, and industrial performance under new organizational contexts and diverse industrial environments. This study has clarified the intellectual framework and research boundaries of leading enterprises′ role in industrial chain development, and it will provide insights for establishing a governance structure of industrial chains led by core enterprises. 

Key words: leading enterprise, industrial chain development, scientific knowledge mapping, visualization analysis