Abstract
Industry 4.0 is revolutionising all industries including Blue Economy, and transforming different aspects of the way we live, work, and learn. Industry 4.0 has redefined entire services and processes through intelligent and integrated technologies such as Cyber-Physical-Systems (CPS), the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI). The Industry 4.0 has brought many positive changes and at the same time challenges that directly or indirectly involve the human element and sustainability. While the long-term strategy of the Blue Economy is aimed at unlocking the potential of ocean resources, a qualified and intelligent workforce in a sustainable environment can increase productivity and growth opportunities. So far, Industry 4.0 application in the Blue Economy industry has mainly addressed technological innovation. However, so far, the future role of the human and sustainability were not the focus of the R&D activities and thus under-researched. Understanding such a role is important, as industry 4.0, through digitalisation and automation, is redefining jobs, work activities, and the workplace itself. This entails not only the need for training a new breed of workforce who are able to operate novel systems but also affects the design of support equipment and systems for the offshore environment. This paper aims to explore the current status of human elements and sustainability associated with the application of Industry 4.0 on the Blue Economy programs such as aquaculture and renewable energy industries by utilising a systematic literature review. The paper will focus on issues that include changing the nature of jobs and its effect on the workforce in the Blue Economy industries and the need for training and upskilling of the workforce.
