Mapping the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Italy: Innovation and Inequality Dynamics

The rapid diffusion of technologies like IoT, 5G, robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data is driving profound changes, giving rise to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) paradigm. These transformative shifts demand analysis of their spatial impact, including development opportunities and negative effects linked to increasing asymmetries. The present study aims to map the spatial distribution of 4IR in Italy at the subregional level, exploring the link between innovation dynamics and inequality geographies. More precisely, the research investigates whether 4.0 Industry technologies contribute to the mitigation or exacerbation of disparities between strong and weak areas. Using technological and economic performance indicators across Italian provinces (NUTS3), this work employs GIS analysis and cartography to visualize and understand spatial differences. The findings highlight the importance of tailoring policies to social and territorial characteristics to address the specific challenges and potentials in terms of the development of 4IR trends.