Industry 4.0

MEGAPROJECT: BETTER TOGETHER

CHALLENGE: NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN INDUSTRY 4.0: THE ADAPTATION OF FIRMS, SKILLS AND JOBS

CHALLENGE DESCRIPTION:
 

Industry 4.0 is a consequence of new technological opportunities. Students will be engaged in the development of these technologies, their societal impact and institutional and policy framework shaping technological development and societal impacts.

From the technological angle the opportunities and challenges of the new technologies must be established. This entails working with cases on Industry 4.0 technologies and analyzing these from economic, social, health and technological angles. This also includes developing demonstrators in laboratories and at firms building on robot technology, machine learning, the internet of things, etc.

Project groups in different programs will undertake complementary projects on development of a technology, the technology’s managerial and organizational implications in firms, implications for workers or other users in terms of skill development, mental and physical health, social relations etc, and policy response. Policy response may include broader institutional changes and focus on factors promoting technological development, preparing firms and worker for adopting new technological, mitigating adverse effects of technological change in the labour market and the broader society.
 

IMPACTS:

An improved knowledge base regarding industry 4.0 and new development of industry 4.0 technologies. Results can be used to outline and argue for the need for different policy responses targeting in particular the negative effects on employment, distribution, health and wellbeing, but also policies furthering technological development.
 

IMPACTED SDGS:

PROPOSED PROJECT PROBLEMS: 

1. Build a prototype proving the usability of the system

2. Make a system demonstration in the laboratory

3. Under what economic conditions will the technology be adopted by firms?

4. What will be the consequences for workers or other users in terms of skill requirements, health and safety, life quality etc.

5. How can the interaction between humans and technology be optimized so that the opportunities of the technologies are exploited and potentially adverse effects are mitigated?
   a. Create trust to legitimizing the technology
   b. Interface design

6. How can policies and institutions affect the development of the technology, and/or its economic and social implications
   a. Policies for continuous education and training
   b. Policies for technological development; including the role of university research (This could potentially include a 
       study of the effect of the megaproject itself)
   c. Labour market policy
    

CHALLENGE PROPOSER:

Jørgen Stamhus
Aalborg University Business School
stamhus@business.aau.dk

Jacob Rubæk Holm
Aalborg University Business School
jrh@business.aau.dk
 

CO-PROPOSERS:

Ninna Meier
Sociology and Social Work
meier@socsci.aau.dk

Jan Dimon Bendtsen
Electronic Systems 
dimon@es.aau.dk
 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

To be a part of the challenge, you need to participate in the start-up workshop September 9, 15.00-16.30. The registration deadline for the workshop is September 7. At the workshop you will be introduced to the concept, meet other students interested in participating and be able to discuss project possibilities and collaborations. Please note that participation in the megaprojects are based on semester projects and participation is therefore in groups. Should you not be in a group at the time of the start-up workshop, you can still participate and form a group later.

Participation in the start-up workshop are not binding, and you are free to decide whether you would like to participate in the megaproject after the workshop. The start-up workshop will be held virtually.
 

REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKSHOP HERE