<p>With the rapid development of emerging industries, the role of science as a driving force has become increasingly prominent. An increasing number of enterprises are engaging in scientific research, cultivating and strengthening their scientific capabilities, which are critical for achieving core competitive advantages and driving technological breakthroughs in their industries. However, current academic research on enterprise scientific capability (ESC) remains fragmented and underdeveloped, lacking a unified discourse and systematic theoretical foundation. This study, grounded in enterprise capability theory and knowledge management theory, employs the CiteSpace software to conduct a systematic bibliometric analysis of literature related to enterprises and science activities. Through an extensive literature review, the study categorizes ESC into five sub-dimensions: Independent Scientific Capability (ISC), Collaborative Scientific Capability (CSC), Scientific Network Capability (NSC), Scientific Search Capability (SSC), and Scientific Absorptive Capability (ASC). Through an in-depth bibliometric and qualitative review, this research analyzes the key antecedents and influence mechanisms associated with each dimension, thereby uncovering how ESC contributes to enterprises’ knowledge accumulation, innovation performance, and commercial success. Moreover, the study outlines a clear research agenda for advancing future ESC studies. By bridging fragmented scholarship and integrating knowledge management and capability theories, this research significantly extends Teece’s enterprise capability framework. It not only lays a solid theoretical foundation for the emerging field of ESC but also provides actionable insights for enterprises seeking to enhance their scientific engagement and strategic innovation capacity.</p>