ABSTRACT

In Germany, the debate on economic challenges and strategic orientation is strongly focussed on the industrial sector as the backbone and anchor of the German economy. In relation to the digitalization of the manufacturing industry, the term Industry 4.0 is used. The concept focuses primarily on possibilities for optimizing processes of production and product innovation. It thus aims at incremental rather than disruptive developments. Incremental digital development that enables synergies between existing regional strengths and the potentials of Industry 4.0 bears the danger of increasing rather than reducing regional disparities. The expansion of Industry 4.0 can especially be found in strong industrial centres. Many implementation examples are located in the vicinity of university towns, in regions with high population density as well as high expenditure on research and development by large industrial companies. As a result, there are hardly any shifts between the existing industrial centres and the periphery with its weak industrial base. So far, Industry 4.0 seems to have contributed little to reducing existing regional disparities.

摘要

在德国，关于经济挑战和战略方向的争论主要集中在作为德国经济支柱和支柱的工业部门。关于制造业的数字化，使用术语工业 4.0。该概念主要关注优化生产过程和产品创新的可能性。因此，它的目标是渐进式而非破坏性的发展。使现有区域优势与工业 4.0 潜力之间产生协同作用的渐进式数字发展面临着增加而不是减少区域差异的危险。工业 4.0 的扩展尤其可以在强大的工业中心找到。许多实施实例都位于大学城附近，在人口密度高、大型工业公司研发支出高的地区。因此，现有工业中心与工业基础薄弱的外围之间几乎没有任何转移。到目前为止，工业 4.0 似乎对缩小现有的地区差距贡献不大。