The Hidden Costs of Technological Progress: Risks, Governance, and Sustainability from Industry 4.0 to 5.0
DETAILS
Call for Papers
The Hidden Costs of Technological Progress: Risks, Governance, and Sustainability from Industry 4.0 to 5.0
JOURNAL: Technology in Society
PUBLISHER: Elsevier
SUBMISSION OPENS: 22 June 2026
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 18 January 2027
ABOUT THIS SPECIAL ISSUE
We celebrate digital innovation — but what about its hidden costs? From AI and big data to cyber-physical systems, Industry 4.0 has driven efficiency, yet raised serious concerns around environmental impact, technostress, inequality, governance, and trust.
This special issue invites research that critically examines these challenges and explores whether Industry 5.0 can enable a more human-centric, ethical, and sustainable future. It seeks to move beyond celebratory narratives of technological progress and foster rigorous, evidence-based inquiry into the risks and governance challenges that accompany digital transformation.
We welcome conceptual, empirical, review, and policy-oriented contributions across diverse contexts — especially cross-country and multi-level perspectives.
SCOPE & THEME AREAS
We invite submissions addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:
Environmental footprint of digital technologies — The ecological costs of Industry 4.0 technologies including energy consumption, e-waste, and carbon emissions.
Ethical AI and algorithmic governance — Fairness, transparency, accountability, and bias in AI systems deployed across industries and society.
Governance frameworks for digital transformation — Regulatory, institutional, and policy mechanisms for governing Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies responsibly.
Workforce wellbeing and technostress — The human costs of digitalisation including technostress, burnout, deskilling, and mental health impacts on workers.
Cybersecurity and digital trust — Risks, vulnerabilities, and governance challenges in cyber-physical systems and connected digital infrastructures.
Circular economy and sustainable innovation — How Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies can support or hinder circular economy principles and sustainable production.
Socio-technical sustainability — The interplay between technological systems and social structures in achieving sustainable and equitable outcomes.
Inequality and digital divide — How digital transformation exacerbates or mitigates social, economic, and geographic inequalities across countries and communities.
Industry 5.0 and human-centric futures — Research exploring the transition from Industry 4.0 to 5.0 and its potential for more ethical, inclusive, and sustainable technological progress.
GUEST EDITORS
Prof. Vikas Kumar ✉️ Contact via journal submission system
Muhammad Mustafa Kamal ✉️ Contact via journal submission system
Ebru Susur, PhD ✉️ Contact via journal submission system
Narain Gupta ✉️ Contact via journal submission system
KEY DEADLINES & DATES
Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
Submissions Open | 22 June 2026 |
Submission Deadline | 18 January 2027 |
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
How to submit: Manuscripts must be submitted via Editorial Manager®.
Selecting the special issue: When submitting, select: VSI: Industry 4.0 to 5.0 from the article type/special issue drop-down menu.
Eligibility: Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication elsewhere while under review.
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