The digital association Bitkom surveyed 553 industrial companies in Germany by telephone to find out which nation they believe is currently leading the Industry 4.0 is leading. One in four companies surveyed sees the USA as the leader. Germany ranks second with 16 percent of responses, closely followed by China and Japan with 15 percent each. 13 percent see South Korea as the leader. Christina Raab, member of the Bitkom Executive Board, says:
"Industry 4.0 is a fully digitized and cross-company networked industry. With the rapid introduction of the 5G mobile communications standard in Germany's factories, the cards are being reshuffled."
German industry wants more political support
Fifty-five percent of respondents see proactive management within companies as crucial to Germany's success in Industry 4.0. Thirty-nine percent say that Germany has a better legal framework, but only one in four sees Germany as a leader in establishing standards or investing in research and development. Only 11 percent speak of strong political support in the area of Industry 4.0. Political commitment, however, is rated more highly for the other nations: The USA lands at 21 percent, China at 22 percent, and Japan at 20 percent. Christina Raab says:
“We need better tax conditions for investments in Industry 4.0, strengthened research and development funding, and targeted training opportunities for employees.”
Respondents also expect only minor changes in the rankings in the coming years: One in five companies predicts that the USA will continue to be the leader in this area in 2030. Fifteen percent each name Germany and South Korea, and 14 percent Japan. Companies, however, view China's future with skepticism: Only 12 percent expect China to take first place in the future.
