 Industry 4.0 as policy-driven discourse to institutionalize innovation systems in manufacturingGeorg Reischauer Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2018, vol. 132, issue C, 26-33 Abstract: We are witnessing an increasing adoption of digital technologies in manufacturing industries around the globe. This trend is often debated under the label Industry 4.0. A key claim put forward in these debates is that Industry 4.0 represents a revolution that will reshape manufacturing industries akin to previous industrial revolutions. Despite the popularity of this claim, it provides little help to clarify the identity of Industry 4.0. Such a clarification is however much needed given the worldwide proliferation of digital technologies in manufacturing industries. I address this gap by arguing to view Industry 4.0 as policy-driven innovation discourse in manufacturing industries that aims to institutionalize innovation systems that encompass business, academia, and politics. This clarification of the identity of Industry 4.0 adds to a better understanding of the relationship between manufacturing and politics as well as technological change in manufacturing. Keywords: Industry 4.0; Digital manufacturing; Discourse; Innovation system; Triple Helix; Technology and innovation studies; Institutional theory (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:132:y:2018:i:c:p:26-33 DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2018.02.012 Access Statistics for this article Technological Forecasting and Social Change is currently edited by Fred Phillips More articles in Technological Forecasting and Social Change from Elsevier |
Is your work missing from RePEc? Here is how to contribute.
Questions or problems? Check the EconPapers FAQ or send mail to .
EconPapers is hosted by the
School of Business at Örebro University.