Innovation Environment’s Role in Supporting Industry 4.0 Technology Adoption to Address Effects of COVID-19

Abstract

Health systems were severely strained at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, where the demand for personal protection equipment (PPE) could not be met. The challenge faced by many countries was how to innovate quickly to create PPE and other needed solutions. The subsequent research gap identified was a lack of practical insights on how to support such novel technology adoption, particularly those that stem from Industry 4.0 (I4.0) within a developing world context. To address this previous literature on I4.0 technology, the role of innovation environments and theoretical principles of technology adoption was reviewed. A practical case from an academic makerspace based in a South African university was then assessed. It was selected due to its direct role in rapid solutions development of PPE using additive manufacturing (AM) until such a time that manufacturers could set up production on a larger scale. It was found that AM and other novel technologies have facilitated innovative solutions to address the significant impacts of the pandemic. Key to which were practices identified of an innovation environment that supported early-stage adoption of AM to achieve this even in a developing country context. The findings imply that innovation environments offer an agile platform to leverage innovation by streamlining certain critical success factors of I4.0 technology adoption, which is presented in a model. However, individual skills developed by such environments to enhance innovation capabilities within this paradigm require further research.

Leveraging technology adoption to navigate the 4IR towards a future‐ready business: A systematic literature review

“…2,3 These technologies also saw utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing safety equipment shortages through AM and enhanced forecasting of concentrated areas of infection, allowing leaders to make data-driven decisions. 4,5 Despite several opportunities presented by this paradigm, the rapid expansion of emerging technologies brings with it several complexities, 6,7 consequently exerting pressure on organizations to reassess or even reinvent their business models, strategies, and systems. 8,9 Fittingly, the topic of 4IR's impact on the future of work and business sustainability has gained global interest.…”

“…The emerging technology in question includes but is not limited to artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data analytics, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), the metaverse, nanotechnology, robotics, additive manufacturing (AM), and blockchain 2,3 . These technologies also saw utilization during the COVID‐19 pandemic, addressing safety equipment shortages through AM and enhanced forecasting of concentrated areas of infection, allowing leaders to make data‐driven decisions 4,5 . Despite several opportunities presented by this paradigm, the rapid expansion of emerging technologies brings with it several complexities, 6,7 consequently exerting pressure on organizations to reassess or even reinvent their business models, strategies, and systems 8,9 .…”