The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is a global, societal shift defined by the merging of technologies that makes the distinctions between the physical, digital, and biological realms less clear.

Unlike previous revolutions, the 4IR evolves at an exponential pace, driven by AI, biotechnology, and advanced robotics, profoundly transforming economies, governments, and human existence itself.

Industry 4.0 is the crucial subset of the 4IR that focuses specifically on the digital transformationof the manufacturing sector. It’s the framework, originating in Germany, for implementing cyber-physical systems and IoT to create smart factories, making it the practical application of the broader 4IR paradigm.