Inclusive Industry 4.0 in Europe—Japanese Lessons on Socially Responsible Industry 4.0

Oliver Kovacs

doi:10.3390/socsci11010029

Abstract

This contribution addresses the puzzle of whether the anti-inclusive character of Industry 4.0 development can be tailored toward a socially more responsible path (smart automation). In doing so, the paper first underlines the crucial importance of a governance being capable of fostering inclusive growth by deciphering the nexus between flaring populism and non-inclusive growth. It then turns to the case of Japanese digitalization and Industry 4.0 development to show that adding a social innovation-dimension (smart automation) to Industry 4.0 is not impossible in supporting inclusive growth in Europe.

Highlights

IntroductionInclusive Industry 4.0 in Europe—Japanese Lessons on Socially Responsible Industry 4.0
We argue that the wave of challenges posed by Industry 4.0 and the digital transformation further underscores the inevitability of inclusive governance if and when we strive to simultaneously keep in mind the issue of political stability, and of the social acceptability of technological development together with its economic feasibility in Europe
Artificial intelligence patents grew by an average of 6% per year worldwide between 2010 and 2015 (e.g., Japan, South Korea, and the United States account for two-thirds of global artificial intelligence (AI)-related patents24 )

Summary

Introduction

Inclusive Industry 4.0 in Europe—Japanese Lessons on Socially Responsible Industry 4.0. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion