Abstract: Fast discovery and accurate grasp of research frontier is not only the focus of scientific research, also is the need for strategy decisions of top managers and governments. In order to detect research frontier of specific domain accurately and comprehensively using objective methods, firstly, this paper defines the definition of research frontier and analyzes its characteristics. Then, we suggest innovativeness and interdisciplinarity-based detection model of research frontier. The suggested model consists of "three-process" that are identifying innovativeness and interdisciplinarity and refining frontier terms. In this processes, they are analyzed using literature citations, co-occurrence analysis and text mining methods. Finally, we use suggested model to detect research frontier of smart materials. It explains using process and results of suggested model. Experimental result shows a higher degree match of forecasting frontier terms using suggested model and experts' judgements of the field of smart materials.