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Using ICT indicators to measure readiness of countries to implement Industry 4.0 and the SDGs

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Abstract

At the epicentre of Industry 4.0 is Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and across the 17 Sustainable Development (SDGs) are indicators focusing on ICT. In addition, SDG 9 focuses on promoting sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation. This paper samples 212 countries and regions, drawing up a 2015 baseline composite index using three out of six ICT-related SDGs indicators with data. The data come from the World Development Indicators database and the min–max method of computing the composite index was applied. The findings show that the top 10 countries scored between 71.27 and 78.26 points out of the weighted total of 100, while the bottom 10 countries (all African) registered between 0.02 and 5.80 points. As for the regions, the European Union came top at 60.20 points and sub-Saharan Africa was last at 13.04 points. The African country ranked first (Seychelles) scored 43.83 points and ranked 80th overall. Broadly, there is significant work required to prepare all countries for Industry 4.0 through ICT and to work towards attaining ICT-related SDGs targets by 2030. We recommend that right platforms be set up to promote ICT scale-up and lessen the convergence period between frontrunner countries and those lagging behind.

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Fig. 1

Source: Authors based on United Nations (2015: 14)

Fig. 2

Source: Shrouf et al. (2014: 700)

Fig. 3

Source: Authors

Fig. 4

Source: Authors

Fig. 5

Source: Authors

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Notes

  1. Given that there are 212 countries and regions, the scale does not allow to have all of them reflected in the figure. SDG 9.c.1 (Mobile cellular subscriptions, per 100 people), SDG 17.6.2 (Fixed broadband subscriptions, per 100 people) and SDG 17.8.1 (Individuals using the Internet, % of population).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exxaro Chair in Business and Climate Change, Institute for Corporate Citizenship, UNISA, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 0003, South Africa

    Godwell Nhamo

  2. International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Southern Africa Regional Office, Private Bag x813, Silverton, 0127, South Africa

    Charles Nhemachena

  3. Department of Economics, UNISA, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 0003, South Africa

    Senia Nhamo

Authors
  1. Godwell Nhamo
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  2. Charles Nhemachena
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  3. Senia Nhamo
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Correspondence to Godwell Nhamo.

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Appendix 1: ICT-related composite index overall global ranking

Appendix 1: ICT-related composite index overall global ranking

Rank

Country

Score

Rank

Country

Score

Rank

Country

Score

1

Macao SAR, China

78.26

28

Bahrain

62.70

55

Europe and Central Asia

52.85

2

Gibraltar

74.74

29

Canada

62.26

56

Russian Federation

52.16

3

Hong Kong SAR, China

74.42

30

European Union

60.20

57

Italy

51.30

4

Denmark

73.54

31

Singapore

59.76

58

Montenegro

51.22

5

Switzerland

73.19

32

United Arab Emirates

59.65

59

Central Europe and Baltics

50.67

6

Cayman Islands

72.64

33

St. Kitts and Nevis

59.36

60

Azerbaijan

50.19

7

Monaco

72,53

34

North America

58.94

61

Poland

49.99

8

Liechtenstein

71.81

35

United States

58.57

62

Curacao

49.85

9

Bermuda

71.56

36

Australia

58.53

63

Croatia

49.40

10

Netherlands

71.27

37

Cyprus

58.23

64

Chile

49.13

11

Luxembourg

70.16

38

Lithuania

57.59

65

Antigua and Barbuda

48.17

12

Iceland

70.15

39

Israel

57.36

66

New Caledonia

48.17

13

Norway

70.15

40

Ireland

57.17

67

Bahamas, The

48.02

14

Korea, Rep

68.66

41

Spain

57.07

68

Saudi Arabia

47.97

15

United Kingdom

68.63

42

Latvia

56.72

69

Argentina

47.82

16

Andorra

68.17

43

Barbados

55.91

70

Serbia

47.64

17

Sweden

67.72

44

Czech Republic

55.89

71

Kazakhstan

47.46

18

Faroe Islands

67.06

45

Aruba

55.67

72

Lebanon

47.24

19

Germany

66.67

46

Belarus

55.32

73

Bulgaria

46.98

20

France

64.65

47

Hungary

55.25

74

Dominica

46.17

21

Belgium

64.56

48

Uruguay

54.66

75

Greenland

45.30

22

Estonia

64.12

49

Portugal

54.58

76

Macedonia, FYR

45.17

23

Finland

63.99

50

Greece

54.26

77

Malaysia

44.99

24

Japan

63.74

51

Slovenia

54.18

78

Romania

44.69

25

Malta

63.62

52

Slovak Republic

54.15

79

Oman

44.40

26

Austria

63.12

53

Qatar

52.91

80

Seychelles

43.83

27

New Zealand

63.06

54

Trinidad and Tobago

52.88

81

Costa Rica

43.71

82

French Polynesia

43.67

109

Thailand

34.30

136

Bhutan

23.77

83

Kuwait

41.88

110

Suriname

34.23

137

Sri Lanka

23.27

84

Puerto Rico

41.83

111

Morocco

33.56

138

Ghana

23.14

85

Grenada

41.56

112

Vietnam

32.81

139

Libya

22.58

86

Mauritius

41.39

113

Tunisia

31.81

140

Guyana

22.51

87

Georgia

41.33

114

World

31.52

141

Belize

22.36

88

Moldova

40.82

115

Philippines

31.26

142

Guatemala

22.32

89

Brunei Darussalam

40.35

116

Dominican Republic

30.44

143

Mongolia

22.11

90

Brazil

40.33

117

Gabon

30.29

144

Bolivia

22.03

91

Maldives

39.93

118

West Bank and Gaza

30.26

145

Indonesia

21.27

92

Bosnia and Herzegovina

39.19

119

Jamaica

30.14

146

Cambodia

21.03

93

China

39.16

120

Ecuador

30.13

147

Tonga

20.73

94

Ukraine

38.77

121

Paraguay

29.77

148

Namibia

20.63

95

Albania

38.27

122

Middle East and North Africa

29.76

149

Syrian Arab Republic

19.66

96

Colombia

38.20

123

Iran, Islamic Rep

29.74

150

Nicaragua

19.47

97

Armenia

38.15

124

Botswana

29.36

151

Honduras

19.15

98

East Asia & Pacific

38.03

125

Peru

28.59

152

Gambia, The

19.13

99

St. Vincent & Grenadines

37.90

126

Cabo Verde

27.57

153

Turkmenistan

18.92

100

Jordan

37.63

127

El Salvador

27.45

154

Timor-Leste

18.42

101

Panama

37.01

128

Algeria

27.13

155

Sao Tome and Principe

18.01

102

Caribbean small states

36.57

129

Arab World

26.56

156

Lesotho

17.75

103

Latin America & Caribbean

36.22

130

Tuvalu

25.75

157

Senegal

17.18

104

St. Lucia

35.39

131

Fiji

25.67

158

India

16.54

105

Venezuela, RB

35,31

132

Kyrgyz Republic

25,26

159

Mali

16,13

106

Mexico

35,30

133

Egypt, Arab Rep

25,02

160

Nigeria

15,89

107

Turkey

35,26

134

Uzbekistan

24,63

161

Tajikistan

15.79

108

South Africa

35.12

135

Cote d'Ivoire

23.82

162

Zimbabwe

15.74

163

South Asia

15.66

180

Congo. Rep

12.45

197

Djibouti

8.07

164

Nepal

15.64

181

Benin

12.39

198

Afghanistan

7.71

165

Sudan

15.47

182

Mozambique

12.19

199

Guinea-Bissau

7.38

166

Eswatini

15.30

183

Pakistan

11.16

200

Comoros

7.15

167

Samoa

14.65

184

Burkina Faso

11.09

201

Kiribati

7.00

168

Myanmar

14.44

185

Guinea

10.98

202

Papua New Guinea

6.25

169

Cuba

14.43

186

Equatorial Guinea

10.94

203

Malawi

5.80

170

Vanuatu

14.41

187

Lao PDR

10.92

204

Burundi

5.55

171

Bangladesh

14.34

188

Uganda

10.21

205

Congo, Dem. Rep

5.22

172

Cameroon

14.23

189

Haiti

10.09

206

Madagascar

4.83

173

Yemen, Rep

13.78

190

Tanzania

10.06

207

Niger

4.38

174

Micronesia, Fed. Sts

13.74

191

Solomon Islands

9.95

208

Somalia

4.11

175

Zambia

13.56

192

Marshall Islands

9.57

209

Chad

4.04

176

Mauritania

13.30

193

Liberia

9.45

210

South Sudan

3.09

177

Sub-Saharan Africa

13.04

194

Togo

8.65

211

Central African Republic

2.84

178

Kenya

13.03

195

Angola

8.55

212

Eritrea

0.02

179

Rwanda

12.95

196

Ethiopia

8.19

   
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Nhamo, G., Nhemachena, C. & Nhamo, S. Using ICT indicators to measure readiness of countries to implement Industry 4.0 and the SDGs. Environ Econ Policy Stud 22, 315–337 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10018-019-00259-1

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