Title: Industry 4.0 and big data: role of government in the advancement of enterprises in Italy and UAE

Authors: Lucio Poma; Haya Al Shawwa; Elisabetta Maini

Addresses: Department of Economics and Management, University of Ferrara, Italy ' Business Division, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates ' Directorate General of Knowledge Economy, Employment and Enterprise, Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy

Abstract: Industry 4.0 and big data act as a lever for increasing new competition between companies as it becomes too large and complex to be faced or internalised by these companies alone, even large ones. This article examines Industry 4.0 and big data in Italy and the UAE. Very structurally different countries but similar in apprehending, this is the 'age of data' and already realised significant technological leaps on their own territories. Active intervention of government becomes crucial and central in the elaboration of industrial and technological policies towards the enhancement of a dynamic ecosystem and interactive environment where data can flow more smoothly along the production chain. In order to attain such systemic and organisational environment, governments create its solid foundation initially by fully utilising the architecture of big data internally. This paper addresses the current role of government and further actions needed as a stimulus, creator and originator of a cognitive and interactive environment for big data.

Keywords: big data; Industry 4.0; internet of things; IoT; mass customisation; open data; cyber physical system; CPS: human resources; flow of knowledge; innovation; government; Emilia-Romagna; Italy; UAE.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.2020.108317

International Journal of Business Performance Management, 2020 Vol.21 No.3, pp.261 - 289

Received: 18 May 2019
Accepted: 21 Oct 2019
Published online: 08 Jul 2020 *

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