Technological Innovations and Industry 4.0 in the Steel Industry: Diffusion, Market Structure and Intra-Sectoral Heterogeneity

Abstract Based on the Neo-Schumpeterian approach on technology and economic change, this paper proposes to evaluate the effects of the diffusion of Industry 4.0 technologies in terms of the technological dynamics, market structure and intra-sectoral heterogeneity within the Brazilian steel industry. In questionnaires answered by a representative group of companies it was observed that the Industry 4.0 technologies tend to incrementally improve the operational efficiency and productivity of the respective activity rather than revolutionize it, remaining unchanged the minimum optimal scale both of the plants and of the specific equipment. The results also show that the best opportunities for application of such technologies lie in the refining and rolling stages. Concerning the market structure, “technological clusters” tend to favor established companies, due to the lack of important changes to the intensity and nature of barriers to entry.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Martins,Mozart Santos, Paula,Germano Mendes de, Botelho,Marisa dos Reis A.
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Universidade Estadual de Campinas 2021
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2178-28222021000100206
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Summary:Abstract Based on the Neo-Schumpeterian approach on technology and economic change, this paper proposes to evaluate the effects of the diffusion of Industry 4.0 technologies in terms of the technological dynamics, market structure and intra-sectoral heterogeneity within the Brazilian steel industry. In questionnaires answered by a representative group of companies it was observed that the Industry 4.0 technologies tend to incrementally improve the operational efficiency and productivity of the respective activity rather than revolutionize it, remaining unchanged the minimum optimal scale both of the plants and of the specific equipment. The results also show that the best opportunities for application of such technologies lie in the refining and rolling stages. Concerning the market structure, “technological clusters” tend to favor established companies, due to the lack of important changes to the intensity and nature of barriers to entry.