Periodic Reporting for period 3 - BEYOND4.0 (Inclusive Futures for Europe BEYOND the impacts of Industrie 4.0 and Digital Disruption)
Reporting period: 2021-07-01 to 2023-06-30
BEYOND4.0 provides research-based advice for policymakers and stakeholders on the impact, challenges and opportunities of the new digital technologies about to the future of work and welfare.
The digital revolution, known as Industrie 4.0 is disrupting our economies and societies. BEYOND4.0 focuses on a range of possible consequences of the digital revolution, many of which are already familiar concerns to policymakers: high unemployment, job and social polarisation, problematic skills development, and a rise in populist politics. With these predicted negative consequences, it is not surprising that quick solutions are being offered as remedies: a Universal Basic Income taxing the robots, more money for Industry. The solutions are attractive because of their simplicity and apparent decisiveness. It is here however that the real challenge lies, for these remedies are often offered without a robust evidence base about the nature and extent of digital disruption. How many will still exist once that evidence base is developed is a moot point.
BEYOND4.0 has five objectives: 1. Provide new, scientific insight into technological transformation; 2. Provide new, scientific insight into company strategies dealing with technological transformation; 3. Examine the impact of technological transformation on: a. quality, content, and distribution of work; b. skill needs; c. education and training; d. value creation by companies; 4. Identify policy options for: a. fiscal policy (e.g. robot taxes); b. welfare policy (e.g. basic income); 5. Identify social investment approaches and tools for inclusive growth.
BEYOND4.0 focuses on two main technological transformations: the digitisation of production through automation/robotics (also referred to as ‘Industrie 4.0’, as Germany was first with this strategy), and the digitisation of work through the platform economy (also referred to as ‘Uberisation’). Both have the capacity to eradicate jobs: the first by substituting jobs with technology; the second by using technology to replace jobs with micro-tasks. Both can also make existing skills, tax and welfare systems ineffective. Indeed, the current scientific and policy discourse is dominated by predictions of mass unemployment. However, the new digital technologies offer also new opportunities for welfare and wellbeing.
The digital revolution, known as Industrie 4.0 is disrupting our economies and societies. BEYOND4.0 focuses on a range of possible consequences of the digital revolution, many of which are already familiar concerns to policymakers: high unemployment, job and social polarisation, problematic skills development, and a rise in populist politics. With these predicted negative consequences, it is not surprising that quick solutions are being offered as remedies: a Universal Basic Income taxing the robots, more money for Industry. The solutions are attractive because of their simplicity and apparent decisiveness. It is here however that the real challenge lies, for these remedies are often offered without a robust evidence base about the nature and extent of digital disruption. How many will still exist once that evidence base is developed is a moot point.
BEYOND4.0 has five objectives: 1. Provide new, scientific insight into technological transformation; 2. Provide new, scientific insight into company strategies dealing with technological transformation; 3. Examine the impact of technological transformation on: a. quality, content, and distribution of work; b. skill needs; c. education and training; d. value creation by companies; 4. Identify policy options for: a. fiscal policy (e.g. robot taxes); b. welfare policy (e.g. basic income); 5. Identify social investment approaches and tools for inclusive growth.
BEYOND4.0 focuses on two main technological transformations: the digitisation of production through automation/robotics (also referred to as ‘Industrie 4.0’, as Germany was first with this strategy), and the digitisation of work through the platform economy (also referred to as ‘Uberisation’). Both have the capacity to eradicate jobs: the first by substituting jobs with technology; the second by using technology to replace jobs with micro-tasks. Both can also make existing skills, tax and welfare systems ineffective. Indeed, the current scientific and policy discourse is dominated by predictions of mass unemployment. However, the new digital technologies offer also new opportunities for welfare and wellbeing.
A full overview of our actions is in the 3rd review report, in the D10.1 Business Plan and our WP10 Dissemination and Exploitation Plan reports.
The project website, where one can subscribe to BEYOND4.0’s newsletter and download publications, is accessible from two addresses: www.beyond4-0.eu and www.beyond4-0.org. A LinkedIn group has been established to communicate and share knowledge and experiences (680 followers). Our twitter account has 11.000 followers. We have reached more than 50.000 people through our different media.
Two summer schools were held in 2019 and in 2021 (see https://beyond4-0.eu/events/summerschool).
We have 55 publications which can find described in the report D1.2 Overview of publications. These reports contain our results.
Nine Policy Briefs were published:
Policy Brief No. 1. "Digital disruption, quo vadis?: A general introduction to BEYOND4.0"
Policy Brief No. 2. "Industrie 4.0"
Policy Brief No. 3 "PLATFORM WORK"
Policy Brief No. 4 "SKILLS FOR THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION"
Policy Brief No. 5 Understanding Technological Revolutions
Policy Brief No. 6 Data deficits in the digital age and how to fix the problem
Policy Brief No. 7 Participation income as a model.pdf (beyond4-0.eu)
Policy Brief No. 8 Making Industry 5.0 Happen 15.03.2023 F.pdf (beyond4-0.eu)
One extra PB has been published: No.9 Ecosystems and digital transformation.
And a tenth PB will be published in July 2023.
BEYOND 4.0 has published seventeen external Newsletters, which can be found on the BEYOND4.0 website (https://beyond4-0.eu/newsletter).
We have covered all required scientific requirements of the project:
- Analysis of Labour Force Survey, in connection to other major EU-surveys.
- Simulation with EUROMOD
- Thirty company case studies
- Analysis of 14 entrepreneurial ecosystems.
We have developed and operated 4 major network organisations that allowed us to share our results with major stakeholder groups: EUWIN, MOIN, BIEN/Social security networks, Statistical working groups.
The project website, where one can subscribe to BEYOND4.0’s newsletter and download publications, is accessible from two addresses: www.beyond4-0.eu and www.beyond4-0.org. A LinkedIn group has been established to communicate and share knowledge and experiences (680 followers). Our twitter account has 11.000 followers. We have reached more than 50.000 people through our different media.
Two summer schools were held in 2019 and in 2021 (see https://beyond4-0.eu/events/summerschool).
We have 55 publications which can find described in the report D1.2 Overview of publications. These reports contain our results.
Nine Policy Briefs were published:
Policy Brief No. 1. "Digital disruption, quo vadis?: A general introduction to BEYOND4.0"
Policy Brief No. 2. "Industrie 4.0"
Policy Brief No. 3 "PLATFORM WORK"
Policy Brief No. 4 "SKILLS FOR THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION"
Policy Brief No. 5 Understanding Technological Revolutions
Policy Brief No. 6 Data deficits in the digital age and how to fix the problem
Policy Brief No. 7 Participation income as a model.pdf (beyond4-0.eu)
Policy Brief No. 8 Making Industry 5.0 Happen 15.03.2023 F.pdf (beyond4-0.eu)
One extra PB has been published: No.9 Ecosystems and digital transformation.
And a tenth PB will be published in July 2023.
BEYOND 4.0 has published seventeen external Newsletters, which can be found on the BEYOND4.0 website (https://beyond4-0.eu/newsletter).
We have covered all required scientific requirements of the project:
- Analysis of Labour Force Survey, in connection to other major EU-surveys.
- Simulation with EUROMOD
- Thirty company case studies
- Analysis of 14 entrepreneurial ecosystems.
We have developed and operated 4 major network organisations that allowed us to share our results with major stakeholder groups: EUWIN, MOIN, BIEN/Social security networks, Statistical working groups.
BEYOND4.0 generates its objectives by achieving : 1. Building on state-of-the-art research and other EU projects, 2. Using innovative methods, and 3. Combining historical, EU-wide, regional and company level data.
The project generates three new outcomes: 1. Scientific understanding of new technology impact; 2. Diagnostic and developmental tools to lever technological opportunities; 3. Evidence-based support for social and competitive EU policy strategy. BEYOND4.0 carefully disseminates and valorises results.
BEYOND4.0 will: 1. Better address challenges of the 4th industrial revolution in the context of digitisation by providing alternative policy options; 2. Contribute to equitable, sustainable prosperity through scientific evaluations, co-creation and bottom-up solutions; 3. Contribute to UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9.
In conclusion, BEYOND4.0 provides insights and measures that help address poverty, equality, decent work, in formulating an alternative for a low-road Industry 4.0. approach, namely a high-road approach.
By achieving the five objectives BEYOND4.0 will positively impact 1. understanding of technological transformation, 2. successful identification of social investment policies, 3. enabling a robust European inclusive growth strategy, 4. creating a common understanding of new technologies, 5. strengthening innovation and wellbeing, and, in addition, 6. synergise research in this field across the whole of Europe.
Ultimately, BEYOND4.0 wants to identify and promote evidence-based ideas for reducing poverty and ensuring more equality and decent work can be achieved in the digital age. We believe that these aims are shared by the public – and voters. The EU also considers these topics to be important policy issues for political as well as more practical reasons. A practical reason is that the EU needs to have a picture of what an unemployed future would mean, socially and economically.
The project generates three new outcomes: 1. Scientific understanding of new technology impact; 2. Diagnostic and developmental tools to lever technological opportunities; 3. Evidence-based support for social and competitive EU policy strategy. BEYOND4.0 carefully disseminates and valorises results.
BEYOND4.0 will: 1. Better address challenges of the 4th industrial revolution in the context of digitisation by providing alternative policy options; 2. Contribute to equitable, sustainable prosperity through scientific evaluations, co-creation and bottom-up solutions; 3. Contribute to UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9.
In conclusion, BEYOND4.0 provides insights and measures that help address poverty, equality, decent work, in formulating an alternative for a low-road Industry 4.0. approach, namely a high-road approach.
By achieving the five objectives BEYOND4.0 will positively impact 1. understanding of technological transformation, 2. successful identification of social investment policies, 3. enabling a robust European inclusive growth strategy, 4. creating a common understanding of new technologies, 5. strengthening innovation and wellbeing, and, in addition, 6. synergise research in this field across the whole of Europe.
Ultimately, BEYOND4.0 wants to identify and promote evidence-based ideas for reducing poverty and ensuring more equality and decent work can be achieved in the digital age. We believe that these aims are shared by the public – and voters. The EU also considers these topics to be important policy issues for political as well as more practical reasons. A practical reason is that the EU needs to have a picture of what an unemployed future would mean, socially and economically.