【Purpose/significance】The foreign research on the role of intelligence in technological innovation is reviewed,and the achievements and shortcomings of foreign research are summarized, which will provide reference for further research.【Method/process】Through literature search and "snowball" literature search method, the relevant English papers were obtained. The main points, research methods and conclusions of these papers were analyzed. The relationship between the papers was classified and combed.The main points of view and inadequacies of the existing research is pointed out.【Result/conclusion】The existing research mainly focuses on the status and role of intelligence in technological innovation, and the matching relationship between intelligence type and technological innovation type. The limitations of the existing research include the lack of qualitative research, the lack of advanced statistical methods in quantitative research, the weak theoretical basis of quantitative research, and the lack of definition and discrimination of key variables.