Comparison of Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0, and related political initiatives using bibliometric data

Abstract

Purpose: This research investigates key global initiatives related to Industry 4.0, such as Industry 5.0, Society 5.0, Made in China 2025, and the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP). The aim is to define their scope from an academic perspective, exploring their interconnections and relevance within the context of digital and green transformation in major industrial economies.

 Design/methodology/approach: We adopted a Systematic Review (SR) approach to analyze existing literature on the selected industrial initiatives. The study follows the stages proposed by Denyer and Tranfield, which include planning, conducting, and reporting the review. Three research questions were formulated, and a methodology was designed to investigate the characteristic topics within each industrial initiative.

 Findings: The findings reveal that Industry 4.0 remains the most prominent theme in academic discourse. However, Industry 5.0 has shown a strong upward trend since its inception. Keyword analysis indicates that both Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 are predominantly technology-driven, though Industry 5.0 places greater emphasis on human interaction and sustainability. In contrast, Society 5.0, Made in China 2025, and the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) have less relevance in the academic literature.

 Originality/value: This research contributes to the academic understanding of global industrial policies by systematically comparing major initiatives. We propose a methodology to analyze the content of each industrial initiative based on a structured analysis of author keywords, offering valuable insights into these initiatives. By synthesizing a large body of literature, the study establishes a foundation for further research on the evolution of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0.