Mapping Industry 4.0 Enabling Technologies into United Nations Sustainability Development Goals

Mohammed M. Mabkhot, Pedro Ferreira, Antonio Maffei, Primož Podržaj, Maksymilian Mądziel, Dario Antonelli, Michele Lanzetta, Jose Barata, Eleonora Boffa, Miha Finžgar, Łukasz Paśko, Paolo Minetola, Riccardo Chelli, Sanaz Nikghadam-Hojjati, Xi Vincent Wang, Paolo C. Priarone, Francesco Lupi, Paweł Litwin, Dorota Stadnicka and Niels Lohse
Additional contact information
Mohammed M. Mabkhot: Intelligent Automation Centre, The Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Pedro Ferreira: Intelligent Automation Centre, The Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Antonio Maffei: Department of Production Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
Primož Podržaj: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Maksymilian Mądziel: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Dario Antonelli: Department of Management and Production Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
Michele Lanzetta: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Jose Barata: Centre of Technology and Systems, UNINOVA Instituto Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias, 2829-517 Caparica, Portugal
Eleonora Boffa: Department of Production Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
Miha Finžgar: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Łukasz Paśko: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Paolo Minetola: Department of Management and Production Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
Riccardo Chelli: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Sanaz Nikghadam-Hojjati: Centre of Technology and Systems, UNINOVA Instituto Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias, 2829-517 Caparica, Portugal
Xi Vincent Wang: Department of Production Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
Paolo C. Priarone: Department of Management and Production Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
Francesco Lupi: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Paweł Litwin: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Dorota Stadnicka: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Niels Lohse: Intelligent Automation Centre, The Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-33

Abstract: The emerging of the fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0 (I4.0), from the advancement in several technologies is viewed not only to promote economic growth, but also to enable a greener future. The 2030 Agenda of the United Nations for sustainable development sets out clear goals for the industry to foster the economy, while preserving social well-being and ecological validity. However, the influence of I4.0 technologies on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has not been conclusively or systematically investigated. By understanding the link between the I4.0 technologies and the SDGs, researchers can better support policymakers to consider the technological advancement in updating and harmonizing policies and strategies in different sectors (i.e., education, industry, and governmental) with the SDGs. To address this gap, academic experts in this paper have investigated the influence of I4.0 technologies on the sustainability targets identified by the UN. Key I4.0 element technologies have been classified to enable a quantitative mapping with the 17 SDGs. The results indicate that the majority of the I4.0 technologies can contribute positively to achieving the UN agenda. It was also found that the effects of the technologies on individual goals varies between direct and strong, and indirect and weak influences. The main insights and lessons learned from the mapping are provided to support future policy.

Keywords: Industry 4.0; I4.0; sustainability; Sustainable Development Goals; 2030 Agenda (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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