Event Details

The Pentland Centre is hosting an online seminar exploring Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0 through human-centric approaches, sustainability, digitalization, and global socio-political perspectives, concluding with interactive discussions.

Society 5.0 epitomizes Japan's initiative to foster societal advancement, marking a departure from the current information technology-centred Society 4.0. This next phase underscores human-cantered strategies driven by scientific and technological advancements, particularly in AI, robotics, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, aimed at addressing global challenges anticipated to confront Japan ahead of other nations. On the other hand, Industry Revolution 5.0, also known as Industry 5.0, symbolizes a European Commission-led effort to cultivate a sustainable, human-centred, and resilient European industry. Industry 5.0 acknowledges the industry's potential to achieve societal objectives beyond mere job creation and economic growth, striving to become a robust contributor to prosperity by shifting the focus from individual technologies to a holistic approach that encompasses our planet's well-being, with the welfare of industry workers placed at the forefront of the production process. While the concepts of these innovative paradigms may appear lofty and ideal, their practical implementation can pose significant challenges. For instance, such paradigm shifts necessitate a delicate balance between the relationship of technology with society/industry and the technology-mediated interactions between individuals and society/industry. This research endeavour seeks to investigate the extent to which organizations embrace the Society/Industry 5.0 paradigm in their innovation processes and the progression of this implementation.

The scope of this online research seminar is threefold. Firstly, it will provide a fundamental understanding of Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0, highlighting key themes such as human-centric approaches, sustainability, and digitalization from a futurist perspective. Secondly, it will include a cross-continental comparative study from the perspectives of global politics and socio-humanities, supplemented by fieldwork studies to give participants a deeper understanding of the topic. Finally, the seminar will conclude with an interactive discussion and a question-and-answer session between the speaker and participants, aiming to identify important areas for practice and further research. This seminar addresses issues crucial to practitioners, policymakers, and researchers for the future development of industries and societies.

Postgraduate students, staff and general public are all welcome - registration required.

NB: The seminar runs from 14:00-15:00 on Teams

Photo at top of page by Budi Sudarmanto (Adobe Stock).