Technological innovation-enabling industry 4.0 paradigm: A systematic literature review

Technological innovation and the Industry 4.0 paradigm have gained increasing attention from both the scientific community and practitioners, with the two themes being considered topical research avenues of great interest. Adopting a systematic literature review approach, this paper aimed to provide an overview of the existing scientific literature that focuses on the interplay between these two aspects. The analysis carried out offers an in-depth overview of the selected sources and a bibliometric analysis that highlights various aspects of the evolution of the scientific literature and the identification of five clusters: theories; technologies; methodologies and countries; research areas and sectors; and current and future impacts, from which the scientific debate has developed. On the basis of the clusters that emerged, a content analysis was performed to highlight the focus of the literature in the field of technological innovation under the Industry 4.0 paradigm. The paper also offers a research agenda in order to identify unexplored and promising research paths that can be of inspiration for those who intend to address these issues in the future and in relation to Industry 5.0.