Spatial patterns of manufacturing sectors and digitalisation in Hungary in the age of Industry 4.0

ABSTRACT

The study explores how the territorial structure of manufacturing sectors with differing technological intensities is influencing the spatial pattern of digitalisation in the early stages of the fourth industrial revolution. Using data from 2014 to 2019 for sectors classified according to technology intensity and indicators measuring digitalisation trends, we have conducted a correlation and cluster analysis of Hungarian districts (formerly LAU1 level). We found that the geography of manufacturing sectors determines the spatial patterns of digitalisation, and the digitalisation is more advanced in districts that concentrate sectors with high and medium-high technological intensity.

KEYWORDS:

• Manufacturing sectors
• digitalisation
• Industry 4.0
• spatial pattern
• Hungary

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Research, Development and Innovation Office: [Grant Number K 125091].