Title: Territorial coupling in Industry 4.0: assessing the impact of geographical proximity to automotive industry on the digital entrepreneurs in Poland

Authors: Krzysztof Gwosdz; Marcin Baron; Marcin Budka; Mariusz Hetmańczyk; Agnieszka Sobala-Gwosdz; Robert Szczepanek

Addresses: Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland ' Department of Strategic and Regional Studies, Faculty of Spatial Economy and Regions in Transition, University of Economics in Katowice, 1 Maja 50, 40-287 Katowice, Poland ' Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK ' Department of Technological Process Automation and Integrated Manufacturing Systems, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18A, Gliwice, Poland ' Institute for Regional and Urban Development, Cieszyńska 2, 30-015 Kraków, Poland ' Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland

Abstract: The debate in economic geography and regional studies on industrial upgrading and new development paths has intensified with the transformative role of Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Research typically focuses on the adoption of I4.0 technologies by manufacturing firms, often neglecting the providers of I4.0 services and products. This paper examines the importance of geographical proximity to automotive customers for digital entrepreneurs in Poland. Employing geostatistical analysis, surveys, interviews, and network analysis, the study unveils varying degrees of territorial coupling among I4.0 providers, based on the type of solutions offered. It reveals that the strength of territorial coupling differs among digital entrepreneurs, depending on the nature of their solutions. The study empirically confirms a locational dichotomy between IT-centric and manufacturing-centric I4.0 technologies, with a pronounced tendency for high-tech services to cluster in metropolitan areas.

Keywords: Industry 4.0 technology providers; automotive industry; geographical proximity; path creation; inter-path relationship; restructuring of industrial regions; Central and Eastern Europe; Poland.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2024.141516

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2024 Vol.24 No.2, pp.123 - 143

Received: 15 Nov 2023
Accepted: 12 Feb 2024
Published online: 19 Sep 2024 *

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