Opportunities and Challenges of Industries 4.0 and 5.0 in Latin America

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is transforming global industries. However, Latin America faces significant challenges in adopting these technologies. Particularly, small- and medium-sized enterprises constitute the backbone of the economy in the region. This study analyzes the technological gap be...

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Main Authors: Germán D. Rueda-Carvajal, Oscar A. Tobar-Rosero, Gabriel J. Sánchez-Zuluaga, John E. Candelo-Becerra, Héctor Andrés Flórez-Celis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Sci
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2413-4155/7/2/68
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author Germán D. Rueda-Carvajal
Oscar A. Tobar-Rosero
Gabriel J. Sánchez-Zuluaga
John E. Candelo-Becerra
Héctor Andrés Flórez-Celis
author_facet Germán D. Rueda-Carvajal
Oscar A. Tobar-Rosero
Gabriel J. Sánchez-Zuluaga
John E. Candelo-Becerra
Héctor Andrés Flórez-Celis
author_sort Germán D. Rueda-Carvajal
collection DOAJ
description The Fourth Industrial Revolution is transforming global industries. However, Latin America faces significant challenges in adopting these technologies. Particularly, small- and medium-sized enterprises constitute the backbone of the economy in the region. This study analyzes the technological gap between Latin America and more developed regions, focusing on public policies, infrastructure, and gap-closing training. Based on a systematic literature review and secondary data analysis, this research highlights key indicators such as digital infrastructure, investment in research and development, and the effectiveness of government strategies in promoting Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0. Results reveal that Latin America lags behind Europe and Asia in applications related to Internet of Things, cloud infrastructure, and artificial intelligence. However, there are opportunities for improvement through targeted public policies, increased investment in research and development, and enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors. The study concludes that bridging the digital divide requires a holistic approach that includes improving infrastructure, fostering digital skills, and creating favorable regulatory environments. This research stands out from similar studies by providing a detailed analysis of the regional barriers to adopting Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 and offering concrete recommendations for policymakers.
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spelling doaj-art-a41f879c16784ea0bb27a2a186b6d8942025-08-20T03:16:39ZengMDPI AGSci2413-41552025-05-01726810.3390/sci7020068Opportunities and Challenges of Industries 4.0 and 5.0 in Latin AmericaGermán D. Rueda-Carvajal0Oscar A. Tobar-Rosero1Gabriel J. Sánchez-Zuluaga2John E. Candelo-Becerra3Héctor Andrés Flórez-Celis4Departamento de Ciencias de la Computación y Decisión, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín, Medellín 050034, ColombiaDepartamento de Ciencias de la Computación y Decisión, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín, Medellín 050034, ColombiaDepartamento de Ciencias de la Computación y Decisión, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín, Medellín 050034, ColombiaDepartamento de Energía Eléctrica y Automática, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín, Medellín 050034, ColombiaDepartamento de Ciencias de la Computación y Decisión, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín, Medellín 050034, ColombiaThe Fourth Industrial Revolution is transforming global industries. However, Latin America faces significant challenges in adopting these technologies. Particularly, small- and medium-sized enterprises constitute the backbone of the economy in the region. This study analyzes the technological gap between Latin America and more developed regions, focusing on public policies, infrastructure, and gap-closing training. Based on a systematic literature review and secondary data analysis, this research highlights key indicators such as digital infrastructure, investment in research and development, and the effectiveness of government strategies in promoting Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0. Results reveal that Latin America lags behind Europe and Asia in applications related to Internet of Things, cloud infrastructure, and artificial intelligence. However, there are opportunities for improvement through targeted public policies, increased investment in research and development, and enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors. The study concludes that bridging the digital divide requires a holistic approach that includes improving infrastructure, fostering digital skills, and creating favorable regulatory environments. This research stands out from similar studies by providing a detailed analysis of the regional barriers to adopting Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 and offering concrete recommendations for policymakers.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-4155/7/2/68digital transformationIndustry 4.0Industry 5.0digital technologiespublic policies
spellingShingle Germán D. Rueda-Carvajal
Oscar A. Tobar-Rosero
Gabriel J. Sánchez-Zuluaga
John E. Candelo-Becerra
Héctor Andrés Flórez-Celis
Opportunities and Challenges of Industries 4.0 and 5.0 in Latin America
Sci
digital transformation
Industry 4.0
Industry 5.0
digital technologies
public policies
title Opportunities and Challenges of Industries 4.0 and 5.0 in Latin America
title_full Opportunities and Challenges of Industries 4.0 and 5.0 in Latin America
title_fullStr Opportunities and Challenges of Industries 4.0 and 5.0 in Latin America
title_full_unstemmed Opportunities and Challenges of Industries 4.0 and 5.0 in Latin America
title_short Opportunities and Challenges of Industries 4.0 and 5.0 in Latin America
title_sort opportunities and challenges of industries 4 0 and 5 0 in latin america
topic digital transformation
Industry 4.0
Industry 5.0
digital technologies
public policies
url https://www.mdpi.com/2413-4155/7/2/68
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