Green finance as an institutional catalyst for sustainable technology, entrepreneurship, and economic transitions toward the SDGs

Green finance has evolved into a crucial institutional catalyst that shapes sustainable technology deployment, entrepreneurial activity, and economy-wide transitions toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Situated at the intersection of sustainability, economics, and entrepreneurship, green finance influences how capital is mobilized, how institutions govern innovation, and how entrepreneurial ecosystems translate financial flows into long-term socio-economic and environmental value. This study synthesizes the global body of green finance–SDG research published between 2010 and 2025 through an integrated review combining quantitative science–mapping with theory–driven qualitative analysis. Drawing on institutional economics, innovation systems, and sustainability transition perspectives, the analysis reveals that, while green finance has accelerated investments in renewable energy and climate-oriented technologies, persistent gaps remain in institutional coordination, economic policy coherence, entrepreneurial inclusivity, technology diffusion across regions, and the integration of circular economy principles. Building on these insights, a conceptual framework was developed that positions green finance as an institutional enabler linking financial governance, sustainable technology innovation, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and SDG outcomes, offering actionable implications for policymakers and practitioners seeking inclusive, innovation-led, and resilient sustainable development pathways.