Whether in politics, media or in science - the term "Industry 4.0" is used almost on an inflationary basis on all digital and analog platforms as soon as technical innovations or problems with obsolete (production) systems are involved. But what exactly does Industry 4.0 mean, who are the players and what is the current status?

In our series of articles, a member of the Entrepreneur Elite (International) Club and also the Club's German branch will explain in detail the German Industry 4.0 in political, economic, social, technological and ecological aspects and discuss the reflections and changes that this industrial revolution can bring.

What is Industry 4.0? A definition

Originally, the term "Industry 4.0" was used for the first time in 2011 as part of a high-tech strategy project of the German Federal Government. The research platform "Plattform Industrie 4.0", which was launched by the German Federal Government and stakeholders from industry and science in 2013, marked the term profoundly. The term is therefore relatively young - but the challenges did not just start since 2011.

From the very beginning, the aim of the high-tech strategy and platform was to modernize industrial production through innovative information and communication technology. The number “4.0” stands for the age of the fourth industrial revolution. After the first three major industrial developments - steam engine, assembly line and the use of electronics and computer technologies - Industry 4.0 was to unite several current megatrends such as automation, connectivity, mobility, globalization and security. The goal was to gradually automate and network all production processes using digital and smart technologies. People, machines, products and complete systems should communicate and work together. Through this holistic concept, all phases of the life cycle of a product can be tracked, mapped and controlled. This optimizes the entire value chain and not just individual processes or devices.

It is noteworthy that "Industry 4.0" as an industrial revolution has been propagated as such for several years, although in most industries there are still few signs of a genuine revolution. The first three revolutions, on the other hand, were retrospectively labeled as such. The term is therefore more to be understood as a guidepost by the German federal government and its co-operating bodies.

To learn more about German Industry 4.0, read our upcoming Wechat postings from the club. If you would like to participate in this year's study trip on the subject of Industry 4.0 in Germany, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Entrepreneur Elite (International) Club German Branch is established in 2019 and is currently located in the German capital city Berlin. Soon the Munich office will also be opened. The main responsibility of the German branch is to provide the club members - entrepreneurs - with a full range of business services for the EU, especially the German-speaking region, including investment, strategic consulting, human resource development, legal and finance service, training and many other fields. On the club's public wechat platform, we will regularly publish information on German technology, economy, politics, and business management to help members understand Germany more deeply.