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The Enabling Technologies of Industry 4.0: Examining the Seeds of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

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  • Arianna Martinelli
  • Andrea Mina
  • Massimo Moggi

Abstract

Technological revolutions mark profound transformations in socio-economic systems. They are associated with the development and diffusion of general purpose technologies that display very high degrees of pervasiveness, dynamism and complementarity. This paper provides an in-depth examination of the technologies underpinning the 'factory of the future' as profiled by the Industry 4.0 paradigm. It contains an exploratory comparative analysis of the technological bases and the emergent patterns of development of Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud, robotics, artificial intelligence and additive manufacturing. We qualify the 'enabling' nature of these technologies. We then test whether, taken together and individually, they display the characteristics of generality, originality and longevity associated with general purpose technologies. Finally, we discuss key themes for future research on this topic from an industrial structural change perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • Arianna Martinelli & Andrea Mina & Massimo Moggi, 2019. "The Enabling Technologies of Industry 4.0: Examining the Seeds of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," LEM Papers Series 2019/09, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    • Handle: RePEc:ssa:lemwps:2019/09
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Industry 4.0; technological paradigm; enabling technology; general purpose technology; disruptive innovation.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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