Exploring Industry 4.0 and its impact on sustainability and collaborative innovation

This dissertation presents two-fold impact of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) on sustainability and collaborative innovation. The research adopts a qualitative approach building on the systematic mapping study of scientific literature and case study methods. Regarding sustainability, the results show triple bottom line, circular economy, and sustainable business models as inter-related and significant themes. The results also include an analysis of I4.0-based implementation pathway for digitalisation and sustainability with respect to drivers, barriers, and opportunities for Finland.

Furthermore, triple helix collaboration for innovation and value co-creation in an I4.0 environment is analysed, and enablers for successful collaborations in the innovation ecosystems are identified and presented. The results also provide empirical evidence related to the network of interdependencies (goal, task, resource) formed in I4.0-based collaborative innovation. The research provides new knowledge concerning the impact of I4.0 on sustainable development and collaborative value-creation for practitioners and academics.