Fourth Industrial Revolution

{{History of technology sidebar}}The phrase Fourth Industrial Revolution was first introduced by a team of scientists developing a high-tech strategy for the German government.{{Cite web|date=4 March 2013|title=Industrie 4.0: Mit dem Internet der Dinge auf dem Weg zur 4. industrial Revolution - vdi-nachrichten.com|url=http://www.vdi-nachrichten.com/artikel/Industrie-4-0-Mit-dem-Internet-der-Dinge-auf-dem-Weg-zur-4-industriellen-Revolution/52570/1|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304101009/http://www.vdi-nachrichten.com/artikel/Industrie-4-0-Mit-dem-Internet-der-Dinge-auf-dem-Weg-zur-4-industriellen-Revolution/52570/1|archive-date=4 March 2013}} Klaus Schwab, former executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), introduced the phrase to a wider audience in a 2015 article published by Foreign Affairs.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2015-12-12/fourth-industrial-revolution/ |title=The Fourth Industrial Revolution |last=Schwab |first=Klaus |date=12 December 2015 |access-date=15 January 2019 |magazine=Foreign Affairs}} "Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution" was the 2016 theme of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.{{Cite news|last=Marr|first=Bernard|title=Why Everyone Must Get Ready For The 4th Industrial Revolution|language=en|work=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2016/04/05/why-everyone-must-get-ready-for-4th-industrial-revolution/|access-date=14 February 2018}}

On 10 October 2016, the Forum announced the opening of its Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in San Francisco.{{Cite web |last=Monck |first=Adrian |date=10 October 2016 |title=New Forum Center to Advance Global Cooperation on Fourth Industrial Revolution |url=https://www.weforum.org/press/2016/10/new-forum-center-to-advance-global-cooperation-on-fourth-industrial-revolution/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120152702/https://www.weforum.org/press/2016/10/new-forum-center-to-advance-global-cooperation-on-fourth-industrial-revolution/ |archive-date=20 November 2016 |access-date=15 October 2018 |website=World Economic Forum}} This was also subject and title of Schwab's 2016 book.{{cite book

| last1 = Schwab

| first1 = Klaus

| author-link1 = Klaus Schwab

| year = 2016

| title = The Fourth Industrial Revolution

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ST_FDAAAQBAJ

| location = New York

| publisher = Crown Publishing Group

| publication-date = 2017

| isbn = 9781524758875

| access-date = 29 June 2017

| quote = Digital technologies ... are not new, but in a break with the third industrial revolution, they are becoming more sophisticated and integrated and are, as a result, transforming societies and the global economy.}} Schwab includes in this fourth era technologies that combine hardware, software, and biology (cyber-physical systems),{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-what-it-means-and-how-to-respond/|title=The Fourth Industrial Revolution: what it means and how to respond|website=World Economic Forum|date=14 January 2016 |access-date=20 March 2018}} and emphasises advances in communication and connectivity. Schwab expects this era to be marked by breakthroughs in emerging technologies in fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, quantum computing, biotechnology, the internet of things, the industrial internet of things, decentralised consensus, fifth-generation wireless technologies, 3D printing, and fully autonomous vehicles.

{{cite web

|last1= Schwab|first1= Klaus

|title= The Fourth Industrial Revolution: what it means, how to respond

|url= https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-what-it-means-and-how-to-respond/

|website= World Economic Forum|date= 14 January 2016

|access-date = 29 June 2017

|quote= The possibilities of billions of people connected by mobile devices, with unprecedented processing power, storage capacity, and access to knowledge, are unlimited. And these possibilities will be multiplied by emerging technology breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage, and quantum computing.}}

In The Great Reset proposal by the WEF, The Fourth Industrial Revolution is included as a strategic intelligence in the solution to rebuild the economy sustainably following the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title=Strategic Intelligence – World Economic Forum |url=https://intelligence.weforum.org/topics/a1Gb0000001RIhBEAW?tab=publications |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201222034658/https://intelligence.weforum.org/topics/a1Gb0000001RIhBEAW?tab=publications |archive-date=22 December 2020 |language=en}}

{{Main|Industrial Revolution}}

The First Industrial Revolution was marked by a transition from hand production methods to machines through the use of steam power and water power. The implementation of new technologies took a long time, so the period which this refers to was between 1760 and 1820, or 1840 in Europe and the United States. Its effects had consequences on textile manufacturing, which was first to adopt such changes, as well as iron industry, agriculture, and mining–although it also had societal effects with an ever stronger middle class.{{Cite web |last=R. Berlanstein |first=Lenard |date=1992 |title=The Industrial Revolution and Work in Nineteenth-Century Europe |url=https://www.questia.com/read/107622079/the-industrial-revolution-and-work-in-nineteenth-century |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129200235/https://www.questia.com/read/107622079/the-industrial-revolution-and-work-in-nineteenth-century |archive-date=29 January 2020 |access-date=9 June 2019 |website= |page=xiv}}

{{Main|Second Industrial Revolution}}

The Second Industrial Revolution, also known as the Technological Revolution, is the period between 1871 and 1914 that resulted from installations of extensive railroad and telegraph networks, which allowed for faster transfer of people and ideas, as well as electricity. Increasing electrification allowed for factories to develop the modern production line.{{Cite web|title=History of Electricity|url=https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/history-electricity/}}

{{Main|Digital Revolution}}

The Third Industrial Revolution, also known as the Digital Revolution, began in the late 20th century. It is characterized by the shift to an economy centered on information technology, marked by the advent of personal computers, the Internet, and the widespread digitalization of communication and industrial processes.

A book by Jeremy Rifkin titled The Third Industrial Revolution, published in 2011,{{Cite book |last=Rifkin |first=Jeremy |title=The third industrial revolution: how lateral power is transforming energy, the economy, and the world |date=2013 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-230-34197-5 |edition= |location=}} focused on the intersection of digital communications technology and renewable energy. It was made into a 2017 documentary by Vice Media.{{Cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX3M8Ka9vUA |title=The Third Industrial Revolution: A Radical New Sharing Economy |date=13 February 2018 |language=en |publisher=VICE}}

In essence, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is the trend towards automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies and processes which include cyber-physical systems (CPS), Internet of Things (IoT),{{Cite web|title=IIOT AND AUTOMATION|url=https://www.punetechtrol.com/blogs/iiot-and-automation}} cloud computing,{{Cite book |last1=Hermann |first1=Mario |last2=Pentek |first2=Tobias |last3=Otto |first3=Boris |chapter=Design Principles for Industrie 4.0 Scenarios |date=2016 |title=2016 49th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) |chapter-url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7427673 |journal=IEEE|pages=3928–3937 |doi=10.1109/HICSS.2016.488 |isbn=978-0-7695-5670-3 |url=http://www.mir-nayka.com/jour/article/view/819 }}Jürgen Jasperneite:[http://www.computer-automation.de/steuerungsebene/steuernregeln/fachwissen/article/93559/0/Was_hinter_Begriffen_wie_Industrie_40_steckt/ Was hinter Begriffen wie Industrie 4.0 steckt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401204034/http://www.computer-automation.de/steuerungsebene/steuernregeln/fachwissen/article/93559/0/Was_hinter_Begriffen_wie_Industrie_40_steckt/|date=1 April 2013}} in Computer & Automation, 19 December 2012 accessed on 23 December 2012Kagermann, H., W. Wahlster and J. Helbig, eds., 2013: Recommendations for implementing the strategic initiative Industrie 4.0: Final report of the Industrie 4.0 Working GroupHeiner Lasi, Hans-Georg Kemper, Peter Fettke, Thomas Feld, Michael Hoffmann: Industry 4.0. In: Business & Information Systems Engineering 4 (6), pp. 239–242 cognitive computing, and artificial intelligence.{{Cite journal|last1=Gazzaneo|first1=Lucia|last2=Padovano|first2=Antonio|last3=Umbrello|first3=Steven|date=1 January 2020|title=Designing Smart Operator 4.0 for Human Values: A Value Sensitive Design Approach|journal=Procedia Manufacturing|series=International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing (ISM 2019)|language=en|volume=42|pages=219–226|doi=10.1016/j.promfg.2020.02.073|issn=2351-9789|doi-access=free|hdl=2318/1735962|hdl-access=free}}

Machines improve human efficiency in performing repetitive functions, and the combination of machine learning and computing power allows machines to carry out increasingly complex tasks.{{Cite journal |last1=Pedota |first1=Mattia |last2=Piscitello |first2=Lucia |date=3 November 2021 |title=A new perspective on technology-driven creativity enhancement in the Fourth Industrial Revolution |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/caim.12468 |journal=Creativity and Innovation Management |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=109–122 |doi=10.1111/caim.12468 |hdl=11311/1208221 |s2cid=243788231 |issn=0963-1690|hdl-access=free }}

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has been defined as technological developments in cyber-physical systems such as high capacity connectivity; new human-machine interaction modes such as touch interfaces and virtual reality systems; and improvements in transferring digital instructions to the physical world including robotics and 3D printing (additive manufacturing); "big data" and cloud computing; improvements to and uptake of Off-Grid / Stand-Alone Renewable Energy Systems: solar, wind, wave, hydroelectric and the electric batteries (lithium-ion renewable energy storage systems (ESS) and EV).

It also emphasizes decentralized decisions – the ability of cyber physical systems to make decisions on their own and to perform their tasks as autonomously as possible. Only in the case of exceptions, interference, or conflicting goals, are tasks delegated to a higher level.{{Cite book |last1=Gronau |first1=Norbert |last2=Grum |first2=Marcus |last3=Bender |first3=Benedict |chapter=Determining the optimal level of autonomy in cyber-physical production systems |date=2016 |title=2016 IEEE 14th International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN) |chapter-url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7819367 |journal=IEEE|pages=1293–1299 |doi=10.1109/INDIN.2016.7819367 |isbn=978-1-5090-2870-2 }}

Proponents of the Fourth Industrial Revolution suggest it is a distinct revolution rather than simply a prolongation of the Third Industrial Revolution. This is due to the following characteristics:

• Velocity — exponential speed at which incumbent industries are affected and displaced
• Scope and systems impact – the large amount of sectors and firms that are affected
• Paradigm shift in technology policy – new policies designed for this new way of doing are present. An example is Singapore's formal recognition of Industry 4.0 in its innovation policies.

Critics of the concept dismiss Industry 4.0 as a marketing strategy. They suggest that although revolutionary changes are identifiable in distinct sectors, there is no systemic change so far. In addition, the pace of recognition of Industry 4.0 and policy transition varies across countries; the definition of Industry 4.0 is not harmonised. One of the most known figures is Jeremy Rifkin who "agree[s] that digitalization is the hallmark and defining technology in what has become known as the Third Industrial Revolution".{{cite web |last=Rifkin |first=Jeremy |date=15 January 2016 |title=The 2016 World Economic Forum Misfires with its Fourth Industrial Revolution Theme |url=https://www.industryweek.com/technology-and-iiot/information-technology/article/21967057/the-2016-world-economic-forum-misfires-with-its-fourth-industrial-revolution-theme |website=IndustryWeek}} However, he argues "that the evolution of digitalization has barely begun to run its course and that its new configuration in the form of the Internet of Things represents the next stage of its development".

File:Equipment for self-driving car.jpg]]

The application of the Fourth Industrial Revolution operates through:{{Cite web|title=How To Define Industry 4.0: Main Pillars Of Industry 4.0|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326557388|website=ResearchGate|language=en|access-date=9 June 2019}}

• Mobile devices
• Location detection technologies (electronic identification)
• Advanced human-machine interfaces
• Authentication and fraud detection
• Smart sensors
• Big analytics and advanced processes
• Multilevel customer interaction and customer profiling
• Augmented reality/wearables
• On-demand availability of computer system resources
• Data visualisation

Industry 4.0 networks a wide range of new technologies to create value. Using cyber-physical systems that monitor physical processes, a virtual copy of the physical world can be designed. Characteristics of cyber-physical systems include the ability to make decentralised decisions independently, reaching a high degree of autonomy.

The value created in Industry 4.0 can be relied upon in electronic identification, in which the smart manufacturing requires set technologies to be incorporated in the manufacturing process to thus be classified as in the development path of Industry 4.0 and no longer digitisation.{{Cite web|title=Industrie 4.0 Maturity Index – Managing the Digital Transformation of Companies|url=https://en.acatech.de/publication/industrie-4-0-maturity-index-managing-the-digital-transformation-of-companies/|access-date=21 December 2020|website=acatech – National Academy of Science and Engineering|language=en-GB}}

{{Main|Smart manufacturing}}

The Fourth Industrial Revolution fosters "smart factories", which are production environments where facilities and logistics systems are organised with minimal human intervention.

The technical foundations on which smart factories are based are cyber-physical systems that communicate with each other using the Internet of Things and Services.{{clarify|reason=What is the "Internet of Things and Services"|date=February 2025}} An important part of this process is the exchange of data between the product and the production line. This enables more efficient supply chain connectivity and better organisation within a production environment.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Within modular structured smart factories, cyber-physical systems monitor physical processes, create a virtual copy of the physical world, and make decentralised decisions.{{Cite journal|last1=Chen|first1=Baotong|last2=Wan|first2=Jiafu|last3=Shu|first3=Lei|last4=Li|first4=Peng|last5=Mukherjee|first5=Mithun|last6=Yin|first6=Boxing|year=2018|title=Smart Factory of Industry 4.0: Key Technologies, Application Case, and Challenges|journal=IEEE Access|volume=6|pages=6505–6519|doi=10.1109/ACCESS.2017.2783682|bibcode=2018IEEEA...6.6505C |s2cid=3809961|issn=2169-3536|doi-access=free}} Over the internet of things, cyber-physical systems communicate and cooperate with each other and with humans in synchronic time both internally and across organizational services offered and used by participants of the value chain.{{Cite journal|last1=Padovano|first1=Antonio|last2=Longo|first2=Francesco|last3=Nicoletti|first3=Letizia|last4=Mirabelli|first4=Giovanni|date=1 January 2018|title=A Digital Twin based Service Oriented Application for a 4.0 Knowledge Navigation in the Smart Factory|journal=IFAC-PapersOnLine|series=16th IFAC Symposium on Information Control Problems in Manufacturing INCOM 2018|language=en|volume=51|issue=11|pages=631–636|doi=10.1016/j.ifacol.2018.08.389|issn=2405-8963|doi-access=free}}

Artificial intelligence (AI) has a wide range of applications across all sectors of the economy. It gained prominence following advancements in deep learning during the 2010s, and its impact intensified in the 2020s with the rise of generative AI, a period often referred to as the "AI boom".{{Cite magazine |last=Simonite |first=Tom |title=Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Artificial Intelligence |url=https://www.wired.com/story/guide-artificial-intelligence/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}} Models like GPT-4o can engage in verbal and textual discussions and analyze images.{{Cite web |last=Colburn |first=Thomas |title=OpenAI unveils GPT-4o, a fresh multimodal AI flagship model |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/13/openai_gpt4o/ |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=The Register |language=en}}

AI is a key driver of Industry 4.0, orchestrating technologies like robotics, automated vehicles, and real-time data analytics. By enabling machines to perform complex tasks, AI is redefining production processes and reducing changeover times.{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2024 |title=Adopting AI in manufacturing at speed and scale |url=https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/adopting-ai-at-speed-and-scale-the-4ir-push-to-stay-competitive#/ |access-date= |website=McKinsey}} AI could also significantly accelerate, or even automate software development.{{Cite web |last=Mittal |first=Aayush |date=2023-11-14 |title=Will Large Language Models End Programming? |url=https://www.unite.ai/will-large-language-models-end-programming/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Unite.AI |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-22 |title=In Leaked Audio, Amazon Cloud CEO Says AI Will Soon Make Human Programmers a Thing of the Past |url=https://futurism.com/the-byte/aws-ceo-human-devs-ai |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Futurism}}

Some experts believe that AI alone could be as transformative as an industrial revolution.{{Cite news |last=Devlin |first=Hannah |date=2023-05-03 |title=AI 'could be as transformative as Industrial Revolution' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/may/03/ai-could-be-as-transformative-as-industrial-revolution-patrick-vallance |access-date=2024-09-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Multiple companies such as OpenAI and Meta have expressed the goal of creating artificial general intelligence (AI that can do virtually any cognitive task a human can),{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Tech companies want to build artificial general intelligence. But who decides when AGI is attained? |url=https://apnews.com/article/agi-artificial-general-intelligence-existential-risk-meta-openai-deepmind-science-ff5662a056d3cf3c5889a73e929e5a34 |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Alex |date=2024-01-18 |title=Mark Zuckerberg's new goal is creating artificial general intelligence |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/18/24042354/mark-zuckerberg-meta-agi-reorg-interview |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=The Verge |language=en}} making large investments in data centers and GPUs to train more capable AI models.{{Cite news |date=March 29, 2024 |title=Microsoft, OpenAI plan $100 billion data-center project, media report says |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-openai-planning-100-billion-data-center-project-information-reports-2024-03-29/ |work=Reuters}}

Humanoid robots have traditionally lacked usefulness. They had difficulty picking simple objects due to imprecise control and coordination, and they wouldn't understand their environment and how physics works. They were often explicitly programmed to do narrow tasks, failing when encountering new situations. Modern humanoid robots, however, are typically based on machine learning, and in particular reinforcement learning. In 2024, humanoid robots are rapidly becoming more flexible, easier to train, and versatile.{{Cite web |title=Is robotics about to have its own ChatGPT moment? |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/04/11/1090718/household-robots-ai-data-robotics/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=MIT Technology Review |language=en}}

Industry 4.0 facilitates predictive maintenance, due to the use of advanced technologies, including IoT sensors. Predictive maintenance, which can identify potential maintenance issues in real time, allows machine owners to perform cost-effective maintenance before the machinery fails or gets damaged. For example, a company in Los Angeles could understand if a piece of equipment in Singapore is running at an abnormal speed or temperature. They could then decide whether or not it needs to be repaired.{{Cite web|title=Are You Ready For The Fourth Industrial Revolution?|url=https://theonebrief.com/are-you-ready-for-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/|date=4 May 2017|website=The One Brief|language=en-US|access-date=27 May 2020}}

{{Main|3D printing}}

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is said to have extensive dependency on 3D printing technology. Some advantages of 3D printing for industry are that 3D printing can print many geometric structures, as well as simplify the product design process. It is also relatively environmentally friendly. In low-volume production, it can also decrease lead times and total production costs. Moreover, it can increase flexibility, reduce warehousing costs and help the company towards the adoption of a mass customisation business strategy. In addition, 3D printing can be very useful for printing spare parts and installing it locally, therefore reducing supplier dependence and reducing the supply lead time.{{Cite journal|last1=Yin|first1=Yong|last2=Stecke|first2=Kathryn E.|last3=Li|first3=Dongni|date=17 January 2018|title=The evolution of production systems from Industry 2.0 through Industry 4.0|journal=International Journal of Production Research|volume=56|issue=1–2|pages=848–861|doi=10.1080/00207543.2017.1403664|issn=0020-7543|doi-access=free}}

Sensors and instrumentation drive the central forces of innovation, not only for Industry 4.0 but also for other "smart" megatrends, such as smart production, smart mobility, smart homes, smart cities, and smart factories.Imkamp, D., Berthold, J., Heizmann, M., Kniel, K., Manske, E., Peterek, M., Schmitt, R., Seidler, J., and Sommer, K.-D.: Challenges and trends in manufacturing measurement technology – the "Industrie 4.0" concept, J. Sens. Sens. Syst., 5, 325–335, https://doi.org/10.5194/jsss-5-325-2016, 2016

Smart sensors are devices which generate the data and allow further functionality from self-monitoring and self-configuration to condition monitoring of complex processes. With the capability of wireless communication, they reduce installation effort to a great extent and help realise a dense array of sensors.A.A. Kolomenskii, P.D. Gershon, H.A. Schuessler, Sensitivity and

detection limit of concentration and adsorption measurements by

laser-induced surface-plasmon resonance, Appl. Opt. 36 (1997)

6539–6547

The importance of sensors, measurement science, and smart evaluation for Industry 4.0 has been recognised and acknowledged by various experts and has already led to the statement "Industry 4.0: nothing goes without sensor systems."Arnold, H.: Kommentar Industrie 4.0: Ohne Sensorsysteme geht nichts, available at: http://www.elektroniknet.de/messen-testen/ sonstiges/artikel/110776/ (last access: 10 March 2018), 2014

However, there are a few issues, such as time synchronisation error, data loss, and dealing with large amounts of harvested data, which all limit the implementation of full-fledged systems. Moreover, additional limits on these functionalities represent the battery power. One example of the integration of smart sensors in the electronic devices, is the case of smart watches, where sensors receive the data from the movement of the user, process the data and as a result, provide the user with the information about how many steps they have walked in a day and also converts the data into calories burned.

File:IFarm.fi Vertical farm Finland.jpg]]

Smart sensors in these two fields are still in the testing stage.{{Cite journal|last=Ray|first=Partha Pratim|date=1 January 2017|title=Internet of things for smart agriculture: Technologies, practices and future direction|url=https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-ambient-intelligence-and-smart-environments/ais440|journal=Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments|language=en|volume=9|issue=4|pages=395–420|doi=10.3233/AIS-170440|issn=1876-1364}} These connected sensors collect, interpret and communicate the information available in the plots (leaf area, vegetation index, chlorophyll, hygrometry, temperature, water potential, radiation). Based on this scientific data, the objective is to enable real-time monitoring via a smartphone with a range of advice that optimises plot management in terms of results, time and costs. On the farm, these sensors can be used to detect crop stages and recommend inputs and treatments at the right time, as well as controlling the level of irrigation.{{Cite book|last1=Ferreira|first1=Diogo|last2=Corista|first2=Pedro|last3=Gião|first3=João|last4=Ghimire|first4=Sudeep|last5=Sarraipa|first5=João|last6=Jardim-Gonçalves|first6=Ricardo|title=2017 International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ICE/ITMC) |chapter=Towards smart agriculture using FIWARE enablers |date=June 2017|chapter-url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8280066|pages=1544–1551|doi=10.1109/ICE.2017.8280066|isbn=978-1-5386-0774-9|s2cid=3433104|url=https://zenodo.org/record/1261839 }}

The food industry requires more and more security and transparency and full documentation is required. This new technology is used as a tracking system as well as the collection of human data and product data.{{Citation|last1=Otles|first1=Semih|title=15 – Industry 4.0: The Smart Factory of the Future in Beverage Industry|date=1 January 2019|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128152607000158|work=Production and Management of Beverages|pages=439–469|editor-last=Grumezescu|editor-first=Alexandru Mihai|publisher=Woodhead Publishing|language=en|isbn=978-0-12-815260-7|access-date=26 September 2020|last2=Sakalli|first2=Aysegul|editor2-last=Holban|editor2-first=Alina Maria}}

{{Main|knowledge economy}}

Knowledge economy is an economic system in which production and services are largely based on knowledge-intensive activities that contribute to an accelerated pace of technical and scientific advance, as well as rapid obsolescence.{{Cite web |last=Schwok |first=Karen |date=2 December 2020 |title=A "new" tech revolution is coming and the winds of change will hit the U.S. first |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3878571,00.html |access-date=11 March 2022 |website=CTECH - www.calcalistech.com}}{{cite journal |last1=Powell |first1=W. W. |last2=Snellman |first2=K. |title=The knowledge economy. |journal=Annu. Rev. Sociol. |year=2004 |volume=199–220 |issue=30 |pages=199–220 |doi=10.1146/annurev.soc.29.010202.100037 |s2cid=56043796 }} Industry 4.0 aids transitions into knowledge economy by increasing reliance on intellectual capabilities rather than on physical inputs or natural resources.

Challenges in implementation of Industry 4.0:{{cite web

|url=http://doku.iab.de/forschungsbericht/2015/fb0815.pdf |title=BIBB : Industrie 4.0 und die Folgen für Arbeitsmarkt und Wirtschaft |date=August 2015 |website=Doku.iab.de |access-date=30 November 2016|language=de}}{{cite journal

|title=Impact of IoT challenges and risks for SCM |journal=Supply Chain Management |volume=24 |pages=39–61 |year=2019 |language=en|doi=10.1108/SCM-03-2018-0142 |last1=Birkel |first1=Hendrik Sebastian |last2=Hartmann |first2=Evi |s2cid=169819946 }}

• High economic cost
• Business model adaptation
• Unclear economic benefits/excessive investment
• Driving significant economic changes through automation and technological advancements, leading to both job displacement and the creation of new roles, necessitating widespread workforce reskilling and systemic adaptation.{{Cite journal |last1=Rotatori |first1=Denise |last2=Lee |first2=Eun Jeong |last3=Sleeva |first3=Sheryl |date=2021-01-01 |title=The evolution of the workforce during the fourth industrial revolution |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13678868.2020.1767453 |journal=Human Resource Development International |language=en |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=92–103 |doi=10.1080/13678868.2020.1767453 |issn=1367-8868}}

• Privacy concerns
• Surveillance and distrust
• General reluctance to change by stakeholders
• Threat of redundancy of the corporate IT department
• Loss of many jobs to automatic processes and IT-controlled processes, especially for blue-collar workers{{Cite journal|last1=Longo|first1=Francesco|last2=Padovano|first2=Antonio|last3=Umbrello|first3=Steven|date=January 2020|title=Value-Oriented and Ethical Technology Engineering in Industry 5.0: A Human-Centric Perspective for the Design of the Factory of the Future|journal=Applied Sciences|language=en|volume=10|issue=12|pages=4182|doi=10.3390/app10124182|doi-access=free|hdl=2318/1741791|hdl-access=free}}
• Increased risk of gender inequalities in professions with job roles most susceptible to replacement with AI{{Cite journal|last=Alderman|first=J|date=1 June 2021|title=Women in the smart machine age: Addressing emerging risks of an increased gender gap in the accounting profession|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0748575121000026|journal=Journal of Accounting Education|language=en|volume=55|pages=100715|doi=10.1016/j.jaccedu.2021.100715|s2cid=233583489|issn=0748-5751}}{{Cite web|last=UNESCO|date=25 February 2021|title=Women a minority in Industry 4.0 fields|url=https://en.unesco.org/news/women-minority-industry-40-fields|access-date=25 June 2021|publisher=UNESCO|language=en}}

• Lack of regulation, standards, and forms of certifications
• Unclear legal issues and data security

• IT security issues, which are greatly aggravated by the inherent need to open up previously closed production shops
• Reliability and stability needed for critical machine-to-machine communication (M2M), including very short and stable latency times
• Need to maintain the integrity of production processes
• Need to avoid any IT snags, as those would cause expensive production outages
• Need to protect industrial know-how (contained also in the control files for the industrial automation gear)
• Lack of adequate skill-sets to expedite the transition towards Industry 4.0{{cite journal |last1=Spöttl |first1=Georg |last2=Windelband |first2=Lars |title=The 4th industrial revolution – its impact on vocational skills |journal=Journal of Education and Work |date=2021 |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=29–52 |doi=10.1080/13639080.2020.1858230 |doi-access=free}}{{cite journal |last1=Gumbo |first1=Sibukele |last2=Twinomurinzi |first2=Hossana |last3=Bwalya |first3=Kelvin |last4=Wamba |first4=Samuel Fosso |title=Skills provisioning for the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Bibliometric Analysis |journal=Procedia Computer Science |date=2023 |volume=219 |pages=924–932 |doi=10.1016/j.procs.2023.01.368 |doi-access=free}}
• Low top management commitment
• Insufficient qualification of employees

Many countries have set up institutional mechanisms to foster the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. For example,

Australia has a Digital Transformation Agency (est. 2015) and the Prime Minister's Industry 4.0 Taskforce (est. 2016), which promotes collaboration with industry groups in Germany and the USA.{{cite book|author1=Scott-Kemmis|url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377481.locale=en|title=Southeast Asia and Oceania. In UNESCO Science Report: the Race Against Time for Smarter Development.|date=11 June 2021|publisher=UNESCO|isbn=978-92-3-100450-6|editor1-last=Schneegans|location=Paris|pages=674–715|author1-link=D|author2-link=Intarakumnerd|author3-link=Rasiah|author4-link=Amaradasa|editor2-last=Straza|editor3-last=Lewis}}

{{See also|Science and technology in Germany}}

The term "Industrie 4.0", shortened to I4.0 or simply I4, originated in 2011 from a project in the high-tech strategy of the German government and specifically relates to that project policy, rather than a wider notion of a Fourth Industrial Revolution of 4IR, which promotes the computerisation of manufacturing.{{cite web|author=BMBF-Internetredaktion|date=21 January 2016|title=Zukunftsprojekt Industrie 4.0 – BMBF|url=https://www.bmbf.de/de/zukunftsprojekt-industrie-4-0-848.html|access-date=30 November 2016|website=Bmbf.de}} The term "Industrie 4.0" was publicly introduced in the same year at the Hannover Fair.{{cite web|date=1 April 2011|title=Industrie 4.0: Mit dem Internet der Dinge auf dem Weg zur 4. industriellen Revolution|url=http://www.vdi-nachrichten.com/artikel/Industrie-4-0-Mit-dem-Internet-der-Dinge-auf-dem-Weg-zur-4-industriellen-Revolution/52570/1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304101009/http://www.vdi-nachrichten.com/artikel/Industrie-4-0-Mit-dem-Internet-der-Dinge-auf-dem-Weg-zur-4-industriellen-Revolution/52570/1|archive-date=4 March 2013|access-date=30 November 2016|website=Vdi-nachrichten.com|language=de}} German professor Wolfgang Wahlster is sometimes called the inventor of the "Industry 4.0" term.{{cite journal|last1=Szajna|first1=Andrzej|last2=Stryjski|first2=Roman|last3=Wozniak|first3=Waldemar|last4=Chamier-Gliszczynski|first4=Norbert|last5=Kostrzewski|first5=Mariusz|date=22 August 2020|title=Assessment of Augmented Reality in Manual Wiring Production Process with Use of Mobile AR Glasses|journal=Sensors|publisher=MDPI|volume=20|issue=17|page=4755|bibcode=2020Senso..20.4755S|doi=10.3390/s20174755|pmc=7506974|pmid=32842693|doi-access=free}} In October 2012, the Working Group on Industry 4.0 presented a set of Industry 4.0 implementation recommendations to the German federal government. The workgroup members and partners are recognised as the founding fathers and driving force behind Industry 4.0. On 8 April 2013 at the Hannover Fair, the final report of the Working Group Industry 4.0 was presented. This working group was headed by Siegfried Dais, of Robert Bosch GmbH, and Henning Kagermann, of the German Academy of Science and Engineering.[http://www.plattform-i40.de Industrie 4.0 Plattform] Last download on 15. Juli 2013

As Industry 4.0 principles have been applied by companies, they have sometimes been rebranded. For example, the aerospace parts manufacturer Meggitt PLC has branded its own Industry 4.0 research project M4.{{cite web|date=22 June 2018|title=Time to join the digital dots|url=https://www.aero-mag.com/meggitt-applied-research-technology-group-data-capture/|access-date=25 July 2018|language=en}}

The discussion of how the shift to Industry 4.0–and especially digitisation–will affect the labour market is being discussed in Germany under the topic of Work 4.0.Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Germany (2015). Re-Imagining Work: White Paper Work 4.0.{{Update inline|date=April 2025}}

The federal government in Germany is a leader in the development of the I4.0 policy through its ministries of the German federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and BMWi. Through the publishing of set objectives and goals for enterprises to achieve, the German federal government attempts to set the direction of the digital transformation. However, there is a gap between German enterprise's collaboration and knowledge of these set policies.{{Cite journal |last=Keller |first=Matthias |year=2021 |title=I4.0 Strategy and Policy Integration in The German Machining Industry |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359005363 |journal=KU Leuven}} The biggest challenge SMEs in Germany are currently facing regarding digital transformation of their manufacturing processes is ensuring that there is a concrete IT and application landscape to support further digital transformation efforts.

The characteristics of the German government's Industry 4.0 strategy involve the strong customisation of products under the conditions of highly flexible (mass-) production.{{cite web|date=29 January 2016|title=This Is Not the Fourth Industrial Revolution|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2016/01/the_world_economic_forum_is_wrong_this_isn_t_the_fourth_industrial_revolution.html|work=Slate}} The required automation technology is improved by the introduction of methods of self-optimization, self-configuration,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtC3DAfLTxw Selbstkonfiguierende Automation für Intelligente Technische Systeme], Video, last download on 27. Dezember 2012 self-diagnosis, cognition and intelligent support of workers in their increasingly complex work.Jürgen Jasperneite; Oliver, Niggemann: Intelligente Assistenzsysteme zur Beherrschung der Systemkomplexität in der Automation. In: ATP edition – Automatisierungstechnische Praxis, 9/2012, Oldenbourg Verlag, München, September 2012 The largest project in Industry 4.0 {{As of|2013|July|lc=y}} is the BMBF leading-edge cluster "Intelligent Technical Systems Ostwestfalen-Lippe (its OWL)". Another major project is the BMBF project RES-COM,{{cite web|title=Herzlich willkommen auf den Internetseiten des Projekts RES-COM – RES-COM Webseite|url=http://www.res-com-projekt.de/|access-date=30 November 2016|website=Res-com-projekt.de}} as well as the Cluster of Excellence "Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries".{{cite web|date=19 October 2016|title=RWTH AACHEN UNIVERSITY Cluster of Excellence "Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries" – English|url=http://www.production-research.de/|access-date=30 November 2016|website=Production-research.de}} In 2015, the European Commission started the international Horizon 2020 research project CREMA (cloud-based rapid elastic manufacturing) as a major initiative to foster the Industry 4.0 topic.{{cite web|date=21 November 2016|title=H2020 CREMA – Cloud-based Rapid Elastic Manufacturing|url=http://www.crema-project.eu/|access-date=30 November 2016|website=Crema-project.eu|archive-date=23 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123200543/http://www.crema-project.eu/|url-status=dead}}

In Estonia, the digital transformation dubbed as the 4th Industrial Revolution by Klaus Schwab and the World Economic Forum in 2015 started with the restoration of independence in 1991. Although a latecomer to the information revolution due to 50 years of Soviet occupation, Estonia leapfrogged to the digital era, while skipping the analogue connections almost completely. The early decisions made by Prime Minister Mart Laar on the course of the country's economic development led to the establishment of what is today known as e-Estonia, one of the worlds most digitally advanced nations.

According to the goals set in Estonia's Digital Agenda 2030,{{Cite web |title=Digiühiskonna arengukava 2030 {{!}} Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium |url=https://www.mkm.ee/digiriik-ja-uhenduvus/digiuhiskonna-arengukava-2030 |access-date=16 October 2022 |website=www.mkm.ee}} the next advances in the country's digital transformation will involve switching to event-based and proactive services, both in private and business environments, as well as developing a green, AI-powered, and human-centric digital government.

{{See also|Science and technology in Indonesia}}

Another example is the Indonesian initiative Making Indonesia 4.0, which focuses on improving industrial performance.

{{See also|Science and technology in India}}

India, with its expanding economy and extensive manufacturing sector, has embraced the digital revolution, leading to significant advancements in manufacturing. The Indian program for Industry 4.0 centers around leveraging technology to produce globally competitive products at cost-effective rates while adopting the latest technological advancements of Industry 4.0.{{Cite web |title=SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0 |url=https://www.samarthudyog-i40.in/about-i40}}

{{See also|Science and technology in Japan}}

Society 5.0 envisions a society that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens, striking a harmonious balance between economic progress and the effective addressing of societal challenges through a closely interconnected system of both the digital realm and the physical world. This concept was introduced in 2019 in the 5th Science and Technology Basic Plan for Japanese Government as a blueprint for a forthcoming societal framework.{{cite web|url=https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/english/society5_0/index.html |title=Society 5.0 |publisher=Japanese Government, 2016 |access-date=October 10, 2023}}

{{See also|Science and technology in Malaysia}}

Malaysia's national policy on Industry 4.0 is known as Industry4WRD. Launched in 2018, key initiatives in this policy include enhancing digital infrastructure, equipping the workforce with 4IR skills, and fostering innovation and technology adoption across industries.{{cite web|url=https://www.miti.gov.my/miti/resources/National%20Policy%20on%20Industry%204.0/Industry4WRD_Final.pdf |title=Industry4wrd National Policy On Industry 4.0 |year=2018 |pages=76 |publisher=Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia |access-date=September 25, 2024}}

{{See also|Science and technology in South Africa}}

South Africa appointed a Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution in 2019, consisting of about 30 stakeholders with a background in academia, industry and government.{{cite book|url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377433/PDF/377433eng.pdf.multi|title=UNESCO Science Report: the Race Against Time for Smarter Development.|date=11 June 2021|publisher=UNESCO|isbn=978-92-3-100450-6|editor1-last=Schneegans|editor1-first=S.|location=Paris|editor2-last=Straza|editor2-first=T.|editor3-last=Lewis|editor3-first=J.}}{{cite book|author1=Kraemer-Mbula|url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377475/PDF/377475eng.pdf.multi|title=Southern Africa. In UNESCO Science Report: the Race Against Time for Smarter Development.|author2=Sheikheldin|author3=Karimanzira|date=11 June 2021|publisher=UNESCO|isbn=978-92-3-100450-6|location=Paris|pages=534–573}} South Africa has also established an Inter ministerial Committee on Industry 4.0.

{{See also|Science and technology in South Korea}}

The Republic of Korea has had a Presidential Committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution since 2017. The Republic of Korea's I-Korea strategy (2017) is focusing on new growth engines that include AI, drones, and autonomous cars, in line with the government's innovation-driven economic policy.

{{See also|Science and technology in Uganda}}

Uganda adopted its own National 4IR Strategy in October 2020 with emphasis on e-governance, urban management (smart cities), healthcare, education, agriculture, and the digital economy; to support local businesses, the government was contemplating introducing a local start-ups bill in 2020 which would require all accounting officers to exhaust the local market prior to procuring digital solutions from abroad.

{{See also|Science and technology in the United Kingdom}}

In a policy paper published in 2019, the UK's Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, titled "Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution", outlined the need to evolve current regulatory models to remain competitive in evolving technological and social settings.

{{See also|Science and technology in the United States}}

The Department of Homeland Security in 2019 published a paper called 'The Industrial Internet of things (IIOT): Opportunities, Risks, Mitigation'. The base pieces of critical infrastructure are increasingly digitised for greater connectivity and optimisation. Hence, its implementation, growth and maintenance must be carefully planned and safeguarded. The paper discusses not only applications of IIOT but also the associated risks. It has suggested some key areas where risk mitigation is possible. To increase coordination between the public, private, law enforcement, academia and other stakeholders the DHS formed the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC).{{Cite journal |last1=Ayala |first1=Mario |last2=Cantu |first2=Rob |year=2019 |title=THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS (IIOT): OPPORTUNITIES, RISKS, MITIGATIO |url=https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ia/ia_iiot-intercommections.pdf |journal=Department of Homeland Security-Publications |pages=34 |via=DHS}}

The aerospace industry has sometimes been characterised as "too low volume for extensive automation". However, Industry 4.0 principles have been investigated by several aerospace companies, and technologies have been developed to improve productivity where the upfront cost of automation cannot be justified. One example of this is the aerospace parts manufacturer Meggitt PLC's M4 project.

The increasing use of the industrial internet of things is referred to as Industry 4.0 at Bosch, and generally in Germany. Applications include machines that can predict failures and trigger maintenance processes autonomously or self-organised coordination that react to unexpected changes in production.{{cite web|title=The Internet of Things and the future of manufacturing | McKinsey & Company |author1=Markus Liffler |author2=Andreas Tschiesner |date=6 January 2013 |website=Mckinsey.com |access-date=30 November 2016 |url=https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-internet-of-things-and-the-future-of-manufacturing}} in 2017, Bosch launched the Connectory, a Chicago, Illinois based innovation incubator that specializes in IoT, including Industry 4.0.

Industry 4.0 inspired Innovation 4.0, a move toward digitisation for academia and research and development. In 2017, the £81M Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) at the University of Liverpool opened as a center for computer aided materials science,{{cite web |title=Formulus |url=https://www.cas.org/products/formulus |website=Develop Safe and Effective Products with Formulus |access-date=17 August 2020}} where robotic formulation,{{cite news |title=Innovation 4.0: A Digital Revolution for R&D |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/manufacturing/2019/09/innovation-40-digital-revolution-rd |access-date=17 August 2020 |work=New Statesman}} data capture, and modelling are being integrated into development practices.{{cite journal |last1=McDonagh |display-authors=etal |first1=James |title=What Can Digitization Do For Formulated Product Innovation and Development |journal=Polymer International |date=31 May 2020 |volume=70 |issue=3 |pages=248–255 |doi=10.1002/pi.6056 |s2cid=219766018 |url=https://figshare.com/articles/What_Can_Digitization_Do_For_Formulated_Product_Innovation_and_Development/11763864 |access-date=28 August 2020 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019171427/https://figshare.com/articles/What_Can_Digitization_Do_For_Formulated_Product_Innovation_and_Development/11763864 |url-status=dead }}

With the consistent development of automation of everyday tasks, some saw the benefit in the exact opposite of automation where self-made products are valued more than those that involved automation.{{cite journal|last1=Norton|first1=Michael|last2=Mochon|first2=Daniel|last3=Ariely|first3=Dan|title=The IKEA effect: When labor leads to love|journal=Journal of Consumer Psychology|date=9 September 2011|volume=22|issue=3|pages=453–460|doi=10.1016/j.jcps.2011.08.002|url=http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:12136084}} This valuation is named the IKEA effect, a term coined by Michael I. Norton of Harvard Business School, Daniel Mochon of Yale, and Dan Ariely of Duke. Another problem that is expected to accelerate with the growth of IR4 is the prevalence of mental disorders,{{Cite journal|last= Chalaris |first=M|date=2022|title= Occupational Health and Safety, and Environmental Management on the Age of Fourth Industrial Revolution|journal= Technium Business and Management|volume=2|issue=3|pages=1–5|doi=10.47577/business.v2i3.6941|s2cid=250252625|doi-access=free}} a known issue within high-tech operators.{{Cite journal |last1=Arghami |first1=Sh. |last2=Nasl Seraji |first2=J. |last3=Mohammad |first3=K. |last4=Farhangi |first4=A. |last5=van Vuuren |first5=W. |date=2005 |title=Mental health in high-tech system |journal=Iranian Journal of Public Health |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=31–37}} Also, the IR4 has sparked significant criticism regarding AI bias and ethical issues, as algorithms used in decision-making processes often perpetuate existing social inequalities, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups while lacking transparency and accountability.{{Cite journal |last=Mayson |first=Sandra G. |date=2019 |title=Bias In, Bias Out |url=https://www.yalelawjournal.org/article/bias-in-bias-out |journal=Yale Law Journal |volume=128 |issue=8 |pages=2218+}}

Industry 5.0 has been proposed as a strategy to create a paradigm shift for an industrial landscape in which the primary focus should no longer be on increasing efficiency, but rather on promoting the well-being of society and sustainability of the economy and industrial production.{{Cite journal |last1=Alves |first1=Joel |last2=Lima |first2=Tânia M. |last3=Gaspar |first3=Pedro D. |date=January 2023 |title=Is Industry 5.0 a Human-Centred Approach? A Systematic Review |journal=Processes |language=en |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=193 |doi=10.3390/pr11010193 |doi-access=free |issn=2227-9717}}{{Cite web |last=Kraaijenbrink |first=Jeroen |title=What Is Industry 5.0 And How It Will Radically Change Your Business Strategy? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeroenkraaijenbrink/2022/05/24/what-is-industry-50-and-how-it-will-radically-change-your-business-strategy/ |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Citation |last1=Rada |first1=Michael |title=The Future of Industry 5.0: A Comprehensive Reflection on Sustainable Industrial Evolution |date=2024 |work=Regenerative Zukünfte und künstliche Intelligenz: Band 1: PLANET |pages=341–350 |editor-last=Gondlach |editor-first=Kai |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-658-43586-8_27 |access-date=2024-09-14 |place=Wiesbaden |publisher=Springer Fachmedien |language=de |doi=10.1007/978-3-658-43586-8_27 |isbn=978-3-658-43586-8 |last2=Schaller |first2=Achim |editor2-last=Brinkmann |editor2-first=Birgit |editor3-last=Brinkmann |editor3-first=Mark |editor4-last=Plath |editor4-first=Julia}}

• AI boom
• Computer-integrated manufacturing
• Cyber manufacturing
• Digital modelling and fabrication
• Industrial control system
• Intelligent maintenance systems
• Lights-out manufacturing
• List of emerging technologies
• Machine to machine
• Nondestructive Evaluation 4.0
• Simulation software
• Technological singularity
• Technological unemployment
• The War on Normal People
• Work 4.0
• World Economic Forum 2016

{{reflist}}

• {{Free-content attribution

| title = UNESCO Science Report: the Race Against Time for Smarter Development.

| author = Schneegans, S., T. Straza and J. Lewis (eds)

| publisher = UNESCO

| page numbers =

| source =

| documentURL = https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377433/PDF/377433eng.pdf.multi

| licence statement URL =

| licence = C-BY-SA 3.0 IGO

}}

{{Industrial Revolution}}

{{Sociology2}}

{{History of technology}}

{{Science and technology studies}}

Category:2015 neologisms

Category:21st century

Category:Industrial automation

Category:Industrial computing

Category:Internet of things

Category:Technology forecasting

Category:Big data

Category:Industrial Revolution

Category:Fourth Industrial Revolution

Category:Knowledge economy