Digitalization and Connectivity: The New Commons for Global Inclusion and the Advent of Industry 5.0

Digitalization and Connectivity: The New Commons for Global Inclusion and the Advent of Industry 5.0

by Oliviero Casale

In the era of Industry 5.0, the concept of the common good becomes crucial for steering technological development towards a more inclusive and sustainable future. UNI/PdR 155:2023 highlights how Industry 5.0 represents a paradigm shift in the productive approach, orienting technological innovation not just towards efficiency and productivity, but also towards the overall well-being of the community and environmental sustainability.

Industry 5.0 and the Common Good

The preface of UNI/PdR 155:2023 introduces Industry 5.0 as a new paradigm that focuses on resilience, antifragility, and responsible innovation, key elements for addressing the challenges of our time. This new industrial model aims to integrate advanced technologies with a humanistic imprint, placing the well-being of people and the sustainability of the environment at the center.

The definition of Industry 5.0 presented in the practice describes it as:

"An organizational mode of doing business that strengthens the role and contribution of the production sector towards society and the environment, placing the well-being of the worker and the ethical use of technologies at the center of processes, to affirm itself as a resilient source of prosperity even in the face of stress factors, shocks, volatility, disorder, errors, faults, attacks, or failures."

This vision aligns perfectly with the discussion on the common good in the "Global Solutions Journal", where digitalization and connectivity are proposed as essential infrastructures to ensure universal access to digital services, parallel to basic needs such as water and energy.

Integrating Digitalization and Industry 5.0

In the context of Industry 5.0, digitalization and connectivity must be considered strategic common goods that facilitate not only economic growth but also social cohesion and equity. This implies careful and inclusive management of digital technologies, which must be guided by principles of transparency, accessibility, and technological justice.

Furthermore, the "Global Solutions Journal" document suggests that to fully realize the potential of digitalization as a common good, a multidimensional approach is required that includes substantial public and private investments, agile regulations, and strong cooperation among stakeholders.

Conclusions: Towards a Shared Vision

Integrating the concept of the common good in digitalization and Industry 5.0 offers a promising path to realize a fair and sustainable transition to the global digital economy. With this approach, it is possible to build a future where technology not only promotes industrial efficiency but also actively contributes to collective well-being, strengthening social and environmental resilience. This represents a fundamental paradigm shift, where technological progress truly serves the common good, supporting a more just and inclusive world.

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Others also viewed

Explore topics