Industry 4.0 and its geographies: A systematic literature review and the identification of new research avenues

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic literature review of the research published on the economic geography and spatial implications of the fourth industrial revolution (“Industry 4.0”) using key terms and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Based on this methodological approach, this review includes 177 papers in the final analysis. I discuss the literature based on primary research strands and their analytical contributions to understanding spatial developments in the context of Industry 4.0. The review highlights five main topics that current research focuses on: (1) Value Chains and supply networks (2) Clusters and industrial districts (3) Readiness and adaptation of regional industries (4) Innovation developments and ecosystems (5) Labor market. In the analysis, it becomes particularly clear that the embedding in the theoretical fields of economic geography is so far very thin. The paper calls for a multi-scalar understanding of Industry 4.0 and outlines future research avenues with a focus on the emerging topic of digital geographies. Scholars need to put an emphasis on the role of the geography of digital innovations within socio-technical systems to better understand the spatial dimensions of the fourth industrial revolution and its impact on the economy, society, and environment.